Work starts on massive hydro project

Construction work on the major parts of the Wudongde hydropower project, China's third-largest dam, started on Thursday, with the first batch of units expected to be commissioned by 2020.

China Three Gorges Corp, the builder and operator of the project in southwestern China, said the successful commissioning of the project will help China achieve its clean energy goals 2020. The project got the green light from the State Council earlier this month.

Lu Chun, CTG's chairman, said that with a total investment of about 100 billion yuan ($15.4 billion), the Wudongde hydropower plant will drive investments for the other related industries such as equipment manufacturing and heavy machinery.