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Pollution threatens China’s oldest hydropower plant

Water pollution is threatening China's oldest hydropower station - built nearly a century ago - and has forced it to halt operation several times, said Xinhua news agency on Monday.

The Shilongba Power Plant, located in the western suburbs of Kunming, in southwest China’s Yunnan Province, was built in 1908 using German technology and equipment, said deputy director Tian Jinghua. It draws freshwater from Dianchi Lake to generate power, but it has had to suspend operation several times in recent years because of water pollution, he said.

Chemical plants on the upper reaches of the Tanglangchuan River have been discharging acidic effluent into the lake, according to the power plant.

In November 2003, acidic water "attacked" the power plant, resulting in direct economic losses of up to 19 million yuan (US$2.4 million), Tian said.
 

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