Published by: World Tibet Network News Tuesday, September 23, 1997

Date: 09/22/97

Author: Xiao Tong

China Daily

FOUR pump-storage power generators have gone into operation in Yangzho Yungco Lake of the Tibet Autonomous Region, said sources from the State Development Bank, the power station's loan provider.

A ceremony was held yesterday in Lhasa, capital of Tibet, to celebrate the launch of the power station, which has the highest elevation among China's power stations.

The completion of the station will ease the electricity shortage in Lhasa and promote the economic growth of Tibet.

The power station, 86 kilometres from Lhasa and 3,600 metres above sea level, is one of China's key projects to support the economic construction of minority regions.

The gross capacity of the power station amounts to 90,000 kilowatts. Each of the four pump-storage power generating units can produce up to 22,500 kilowatts.

The total investment in the station is 2 billion yuan ($240 million), of which more than 1.3 billion yuan ($156 million) was loaned by the State Development Bank.

About 92 per cent of the bank's loans were soft loans -- low interest loans -- which reflects bank support for the power industry in Tibet.

The bank is the country's largest policy-oriented bank. It was set up in 1994 to raise funds for the construction of China's infrastructure, basic industries and pillar industries.

It facilitates about 70 per cent of the State's basic projects, including the Three Gorges Dam project, Qinshan Nuclear Power Plants and several State key ethylene projects.