Xinjiang Dashixia Water Conservancy Project commences power generation

Photo taken on September 29, 2026 shows an exterior view of the Dashixia Water Conservancy Project in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Kang Haoyan) news: On September 29, 2026, the commissioning ceremony for the first batch of generating units of the Dashixia Water Conservancy Project in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was held, marking the project's transition into the final stage of full-scale completion and commissioning.

The project features a dam with a maximum height of 247 meters, making it the world's tallest concrete-faced sand-gravel dam currently in operation or under construction. The reservoir has a total storage capacity of 1.17 billion cubic meters, and the project has a total installed generating capacity of 750 MW.

Full-scale construction of the project commenced at the end of 2019. In December 2024, dam embankment filling was completed eight months ahead of schedule. Reservoir impoundment following gate closure was successfully completed in 2025. In July 2026, acceptance inspection was completed for the second-stage impoundment to an elevation of 1,700 meters. On September 21, the start-up stage acceptance inspection for the first two generating units was completed. On September 29, the first batch of units, Units 1 and 2, was successfully commissioned for power generation. Units 3 is currently undergoing grid-related testing and is scheduled to be connected to the grid and commissioned in October.

Photo taken on September 29, 2026 shows the commissioning ceremony for the first batch of generating units (No. 1 and No. 2) of the Dashixia Water Conservancy Project in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Photo taken on September 29, 2026 shows an exterior view of the Dashixia Water Conservancy Project in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Photo taken on September 29, 2026 shows water from the reservoir of the Dashixia Water Conservancy Project in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region discharges downstream into the river channel.

Photo taken on September 29, 2026 shows water from the reservoir of the Dashixia Water Conservancy Project in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region discharges downstream into the river channel.

Photo taken on September 29, 2026 shows an exterior view of the Dashixia Water Conservancy Project in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Photo taken on September 29, 2026 shows a view of the Dashixia Water Conservancy Project in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from the top of the dam.

Photo taken on September 29, 2026 shows a corner of the Dashixia Water Conservancy Project in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Photo taken on September 29, 2026 shows a corner of the Dashixia Water Conservancy Project in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

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