Published by: World Tibet Network News, Thursdsay, August 8, 1996

BEIJING (Aug. 8) XINHUA - Geothermal resources have been spotted in 672 areas in Tibet, making it an important area for geothermal research and utilization.

Widely-dispersed high-temperature geothermal resources were discovered during investigations and research of geothermal fields in Yangbajain, Nagqu, Lungjug and Yangyi, said Tibetan geologists who attended the ongoing 30th International Geological Congress in Beijing.

The temperature of 87 percent of the geothermal resources discovered is higher than 90 degrees centigrade. Out of 672 geothermal spots, 140 are as hot as 150 degrees centigrade, or higher.

The first geothermal well in Yangbajain has reported a temperature of 329.8 degrees centigrade in a depth of 1,850 meters, which geologists said is rare.

Enormous heat energy has been stored in the course of geological activities in the Himalayas, and is mainly released across the ground surface of Tibet, the geologists explained.

Tibet Autonomous Region will build geothermal power stations on some of the geothermal fields. The Yangbajain Geothermal Power Plant, the largest in China, now provides more than half of the electricity needed in winter in Lhasa, Tibet's capital.

In addition, huge geothermal resources in Tibet are waiting to be utilized in many fields, using investment from home and abroad, the geologists said.