Gansu Province strictly controls the development of hydropower development

According to the "Guiding Opinions on Further Strengthening and Regulating the Management of Hydropower Development and Construction" issued by the General Office of the Gansu Provincial Government, in the future, the approval authority for the construction of hydropower stations must not be devolved, and individuals without economic and technological capabilities should be prohibited from constructing individual hydropower stations.

The Opinions clarified that starting from December 1, except for hydropower projects approved by the state, hydropower projects with installed capacity of other rivers in Gansu province ranging from 5,000 to 250,000 kilowatts will be approved by the Provincial Development and Reform Commission with an installed capacity of 5,000 kilowatts or less. Approved by the Municipal Development and Reform Commission, no approval authority may be delegated. The Provincial Development and Reform Commission shall establish access and withdrawal mechanisms for hydropower development, establish access thresholds in terms of technology, funds, etc., and ensure that owners of hydropower development have the ability to implement restoration and environmental protection in areas such as environmental protection, soil erosion control, aquatic biological compensation, geological disaster prevention, and immigration. Compensation measures shall prohibit or eliminate the investment in the development of hydropower projects by units or individuals without economic strength and technological capabilities. In the period of validity of the approval document, if the construction right of the hydropower station is not started or sold, the original project approval document will automatically become invalid and be re-approved according to the basic construction procedures. Hydropower stations that violate laws and regulations and do not comply with national safety regulations shall not be allowed to access the Internet.