Large diversion hydropower station starts operation in Sichuan

A diversion hydropower station with the largest tunnel diameter in China officially started operation on Saturday, according to its operator China Huaneng Group.

The Huaneng Yingliangbao Hydropower Station is located in Luding County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, with a total installed capacity of 1.116 million kilowatts.

According to the terrain characteristics, the power station adopts a working method of long tunnel water diversion. By building two 14.4-kilometer-long diversion tunnels, the water level difference is increased from 26 meters to 116 meters to generate green power. The maximum excavation diameter of the tunnel is 16.7 meters, which set a new record for tunnels of its kind in China.

"After the power station is put into operation, it will be able to provide more than 5.18 billion kWh of clean energy each year, which can meet the normal needs of 2.15 million households in one year. This is equivalent to saving about 1.55 million tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 4.07 million tons, which is of positive significance in helping to achieve the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals," said Guo Zhizhong, chief engineer of the power station project.

In order to solve engineering geological problems such as seepage deformation, the project group innovatively developed and applied advanced equipment and technologies, realizing unmanned operation of the entire vibroflotation construction process.

Large diversion hydropower station starts operation in Sichuan

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday presided over a State Council executive meeting that studied work on building a unified national market and reviewed and approved a plan for the development of a modern emergency response system during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

Noting that building a unified national market is essential to advancing high-quality development, the meeting called for deepening institutional frameworks in areas such as property rights protection, market access, fair competition, social credit and market exit mechanisms.

The meeting also urged efforts to advance high-standard connectivity of market infrastructure to facilitate smooth economic circulation and effectively reduce logistics costs across society.

Emergency management is critical to protecting people's lives and property, the meeting said. It called for accelerating the development of a modern emergency response system, deepening reform and innovation in emergency management, and improving coordinated response mechanisms.

Efforts should be made to strengthen risk prevention at the source, enhance monitoring, forecasting and early warning, and accelerate a shift in governance toward proactive prevention, according to the meeting.

A draft revision of the Law on the People's Bank of China was also discussed and approved in principle at the meeting, which decided to submit the draft to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for deliberation.

Chinese premier chairs State Council executive meeting