China is building what could become the world’s most powerful hydroelectric dam — the Motuo Hydropower Station in Tibet. Valued at $165 billion, the project will produce a massive 60 gigawatts of electricity, nearly three times the output of the Three Gorges Dam.

Beijing says the project will boost renewable energy, cut coal use, and help meet its carbon neutrality goal by 2060. But critics see another side to the story. The dam sits along the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which flows into India and Bangladesh — raising fears of water flow disruptions, flood risks, and geopolitical control.

Rights groups warn of mass displacement among Tibetans, loss of cultural sites, and little transparency in the planning process. Environmentalists also question the “green” label, noting that large reservoirs release methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than CO₂.

While China presents Motuo as a symbol of progress, many see it as a climate paradox — one that could reshape Asia’s rivers, communities, and balance of power for generations.