I also wrote an article on this subject in the October issue of Global
SMT & Packaging. If anyone is interested, I could convert it to a PDF
file (I think!).

Brian

Brian Ellis wrote:
>
> The TV stations were showing a clip last night on various newscasts of
> the preparations taking place for flooding the Yangtze valley upstream
> from the dam. I think that there is a strong risk of this being the
> worst environmental and human disaster in the world, having visited the
> site a few weeks ago. It will certainly be a major producer of
> greenhouse gases (possibly more per kWh produced than fossil fuel power
> stations). It will also put at risk the lives of millions of Chinese and
> will promote a much higher level of chemical pollution downstream.
>
> On the positive side, it will produce 1/6 of the country's current (no
> pun!) needs of electricity, assuming there are no major hitches, by
> 2009, by which time the demand will be up over 25%, mainly because of
> our industry (the polluting coal-fired stations will not be closed down,
> therefore, because of the dam coming on line.
>
> I have purposely not justified any of my assertions above, but can
> substantiate every one of them.
>
> The question is: is such a massive project justified today?
>
> Brian