Published : 2024-06-15

On June 15, 1989, all four generators of the Longyangxia (龍羊峽) Hydropower Station, the largest hydraulic hub project on the Yellow River (黃河), were put into operation, which means the power generation and supply system was completed.

The Longyangxia Hydropower Station is located at the entrance of Longyangxia at the border of Gonghe County and Guinan County in Qinghai Province.

Known as the "First Dam of the Yellow River", it is the first large-scale cascade hydropower station in the planning of the upper reaches of the Yellow River.

Construction of the Longyangxia Hydropower Station began in January 1976; the first unit was put into operation and began electricity production in September 1987, and the second unit was put into operation on December 4 of the same year.

The Longyangxia Hydropower Station is the main power plant of the Northwest Power Grid, started in 1976, and completed in 1992.

The maximum dam height of the Longyangxia Hydropower Station is 178 metres, and the total reservoir capacity is 24.7 billion cubic metres.

It is equipped with four 320,000-kilowatt hydroelectric generators, with a total installed capacity of 1.28 million kilowatts, and an annual designed power generation of 6 billion kilowatt hours.

The Longyangxia Hydroelectric Power Station is the only multi-year adjustment reservoir in the entire Yellow River basin, and the economic and social development of the eight downstream provinces is affected by the upstream water.

After the reservoir is filled, it can guarantee the water demand for economic and social development for 3 to 5 years, alleviating downstream water usage conflicts and drought problems.