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Chinese geologists question safety of Brahmaputra Mega-Dam in Tibet due to active seismic fault line

A study by Chinese geologists has raised concerns about the structural stability of the world’s largest hydropower project on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet. The study, published in the Chinese-language journal Sedimentary Geology and Tethyan Geology, indicates that the Paizhen Fault, an active fault line beneath the dam, could significantly impact its infrastructure. Researchers from the Chengdu University of Technology, the Civil-Military Integration Centre of the China Geological Survey, and the Middle Yarlung Zangbo River Natural Resources Observation and Research Station found that prolonged fault activity has weakened surrounding rock formations, making the dam and other nearby structures vulnerable. The Paizhen area, where construction is underway, is located in the Himalayan seismic belt, a region prone to earthquakes. The geologists cited the 2017 magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Milin, Tibet, as evidence of ongoing seismic activity and warned that regional seismic action could induce landslides and collapses, threatening the safety of facilities and personnel. They recommend reinforcing vulnerable slopes and installing retaining structures. China, however, has consistently maintained that the project meets the highest industry standards, prioritizes ecological protection, and will help prevent disasters, despite the site being on a tectonic plate boundary that experiences frequent earthquakes.