China's Global Role

Chinese companies and Chinese banks are now the biggest builders and financiers of global dam building. Chinese banks and companies are involved in constructing some 300 dams in 66 different countries, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia, including Kamchay Dam (Cambodia), Mphanda Nkuwa Dam (Mozambique), Merowe Dam (Sudan), and Tasang Dam (Burma). (For more information on these projects, see our case studies.)

As a result China has a growing and significant global environmental footprint. Many dams built by China overseas are done so without reference to international environmental and social standards. Information and data is also difficult to obtain given the lack of transparency around Chinese overseas. As a result China has a growing and significant global environmental footprint.

International Rivers works with its partners to communicate the experiences of the international movement for "people, water, and life" to new dam financiers and dam builders in China.

We have focused on the China Export-Import Bank (China Exim Bank) the country's official export credit agency, who is the most important source of funds for Chinese dam projects overseas. China Exim Bank recently provided improved environmental and social guidelines for domestic and overseas loan projects.

We also focus on major Chinese companies involved in overseas dam building including the world's largest dam builder and the Chinese state owned Sinohydro Corporation . We have also complied information on the corporate responsibility commitments and environmental policies of Gezhouba, China Guodian, Datang, Huaneng, Three Gorges Project Corporation, China Southern Power Grid Corporation - who have all emerged as global dam builders in recent years.

International Rivers' China Global Campaign provides information about China's role in global dam building, supports groups in countries affected by Chinese dams, and fosters a dialogue within China about the responsibilities of Chinese dam builders.

LATEST ADDITIONS:

China at the Tipping Point

China: 289 Dam Projects in 70 Countries

A Lesson Dam Lobby Looks Set to Ignore

Sinohydro warns it is vulnerable to risk overseas

A Turning Point for Chinese Dam Builders

CONTACT US:

Grace Mang
grace [at] internationalrivers [dot] org
+1 510 848 1155