"This dam can almost power the state of Texas," an engineer told Newsweek, with the scale of energy produced "simply astounding."

The project, part of China’s push to expand renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions, could affect millions downstream in India and Bangladesh.

The project on a river that runs through Tibet and India downstream could dwarf the Three Gorges Dam when completed.

China has officially launched construction of what is set to become the world’s largest hydropower dam, located on the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau. Spearheaded by Premier Li Qiang, the Yarlung Zangbo hydropower project is expected to generate an astounding 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually – triple the output of the iconic