Since the implemention of Western Develop strategy, hydropower is regarded as local important resourse and key point of Western Development, which is attached high importance by all aspects. Our nation speeds up hydropower develoment, therefore, gain great success.

From National Energy Administration, journalist knew that our country is rich in water resourse, most of the it centers in West. Among the 12 provinces(county) in West, there is 0.441billion KW can be developed, accounting for 81.7% in national wide. However, because of far from Eastern load center and small requirement on power, there is a low development degree. At the end of 1999, the built hydropower station installed capacity is 3.134 million KW, development degree is only 7.1%.

From ten years ago, Western hydrelectric power has gained great success.

First of all, there are a bunch of built big and super-big hydroelectric power. It is estimated that the total installed capacity of various hydroelectric power is about 100 billion KW, of which 51 billion KW has been put into practice, and 52 billion KW is under construction. Especially, Jinsha River Xiluodu(installed capacity is 12.6 billion KW), Xiangjiaba(installed capacity is 6 billion KW), Guangxi Hongshui Helongtan (5.4 billion KW), Sichuan Yalong River Jinping First Level(3.6 million KW), Second Level(4.8 million KW), Sichuan Dadu River Waterfall Ditch(3.6 million KW), Yunan Lancang River Xiaowan(4.2 million KW), Qinghai Yellow River Laxiwa(4.2 million KW) etc, which are regarded as significant power station of West-East electricity transmission project and landmark program of Western Development, are in construction in succession, among which Guangxi Hongshui Helongtan power station has been built and put into practice. At the end of 2008, Western Region has built power station which installed capacity is 82.44 million KW; “Western-East Electricity Transmission” built power station which installed capacity is 25 million KW, in construction is 40 million KW.

Second, our hydroelectric technology has reached worldwide advaned level. Development of Western hydropower accumulates rich experience. Through long term project construstion practice, our country has built up complete hydropower design, construction, equipment manufacturing and operation management system, and has the ability of independent design, construction, and managing various hydropower station. Especially the construction of Xiaowan, Xiluodu, Jinping First Stage, Laxiwa superhigh dam indicates our hydropower construction technology is in the worldwide advanced level.

Through the exploration of western hydropower, it not only pushes the implementation of “Western-East Electricity Transmission” strategy, reinforces power supply in the eastern energy shortage region, also promotes the development of western area economic society.