LIEN-HUA DAM AND HYDRO POWER PLANT (LIU-CHIA GORGE) YUNG-CHING, CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00909A000400010020-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 12, 2008
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: May 1, 1969
• Content Type: REPORT

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Top Secret
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Basic Image!y Interpretation Report
Lien-hua Cheng Dam and Hydro
Power Plant (Liu-chia Gorge)
Yung-thing, China
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Top Secret
dIrQ
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DATE MAY 1969
COPY 9 6
PAGES 6
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
Imagery Analysis Service
Lien-hua Cheng Dam and Hydro Power Plant (Liu-chia Gorge)
UTM COORDINATES GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES
48SUQ503777 35-56-OON 103-20-30E*
MAP REFERENCE
WAC-P I C25X1
0384-37
15th RTS. USATC Series 200, Sheet 0384-IHL, Ist edition, Mar 64, Scale 1:200,000
(SECRET)
Not Required
The Lien-hua Cheng Dam and Hydro Power Plant (Liu-chia Gorge) was under
construction when first seen on photography in September 1959. Since then work
has progressed slowly, in part due to flooding by the Yellow River. In December
1968, the main dam and auxiliary dam were nearing completion and a reservoir,
about 15 nautical miles long, had been formed. When the powerhouse was last seen
on large-scale photography in April 1968, it was still under construction. When
the power plant is completed, it will generate electric power for the Lan-chou
power grid.
*NOTE: The geographic coordinates given in the Data Block are from the Basic
Encyclopedia. The correct coordinates are 35-52-16N 103-16-19E, UTM coordinates
48SUQ442709. Action has been initiated through appropriate channels to have the
BE corrected.
HENG DAM AND HYDRO POWER PLANT
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The Lien-hua Cheng Dam and Hydro Power Plant, called the Yung-ching Hydro
Power Plant in the referenced report, is located on the Huang Ho (Yellow River)
approximately 25 nautical miles (nm) west of Lan-chou. The plant site is in the
Liu-chia Gorge and the river channel is 150-200 feet wide at that point. The
river flow varies widely, with the peak period occurring between July and
September and the drought period from November to May.
Construction of the Lien-hua Cheng Dam and Hydro Power plant was in the
early stages when the site was first seen on photography in September 1959. By
December 1968, the main dam and auxiliary dam were in the late stages of con
struction and a large reservoir had been created., The construction status of
the powerhouse at the.foot of the dam could not be determined due to the small
scale of the December 1968 coverage. On large-scale photography of April 1968,
the powerhouse was not complete and none of the turbogenerators had been
installed..
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When completed., the facilities will include a primary gravity-type concrete
dam in the river gorge and an auxiliary concrete and earth-fill dam on a terrace
to the north of the primary dam. The powerhouse will contain five turbogenerators,
three at the base of the dam in the gorge and two in an extension under the
right bank of the river. Two spillways, one incorporated into the primary dam
and the other in the auxiliary dam, will be used to regulate the reservoir level.
At least two transmission circuits presently serve the transformer substations
utilized for construction purposes. These transmission lines may be used along
with others yet to be constructed to transmit electrical power to the Lan-chou
power grid when the power plant is completed.
Chronology
September 1959. Initial construction of the auxiliary dam was evident and
activity was apparent at the construction support area.
February 1962. The site was still in an early stage of development. A
single bypass tunnel under the left bank and an earthen cofferdam had been con-
structed to control the river flow and divert it from the dam site. The appearance
of the cofferdam and the main dam site indicated that possibly some washover had
occurred. Additional measures to provide protection from flooding did not appear
to be under construction. The construction support area consisted of bases for
several batch plant components, some small sheds, and excavations for the
materials storage area. The tracks for movable supports for an aerial cableway
across the gorge were under construction on the left bank. Continued earth-moving
was evident at the auxiliary dam base.
February 1962-December 1965. Construction was delayed during this period
as a result of September 1963 and August 1964 flooding which innundated the dam
site. Some work which appeared to be completed in the gorge prior to the flood-
ing may have been damaged. The main emphasis during this period was apparently
on the development of additional river diversion measures. A housing and support
base was observed north of the dam site in June 1963. The screening and mixing
equipment of the batch plant was completed and equipped with a conveyor by
August 1964. A pedestrian bridge spanning the gorge and additional construction
at the auxiliary dam were apparent in November 1964. Between November 1964 and
December 1965, there were few apparent changes to the main dam.
Additional protective measures to prevent flooding were
observed. An arch-type cofferdam and an additional diversion tunnel under the
right bank were completed. A large A-frame support at the right bank, associated
with the aerial cableway, and the supports for the aerial cableway at the left
bank were observed. Construction of a roadbed for a rail spur to serve the. con-
.struction support area was in progress, and an associated bridge spanning the
spillway runoff canal was being built. A conveyor for transporting raw materials
from the northwest.had been constructed, and two spray ponds appeared complete.
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The additional diversion tunnel and the arch-type cofferdam 25X1
were evidently considered sufficient for river control as construction had resumed
at the base of the gorge.. Numerous vehicles, equipment, and cranes were observed
throughout the area. A,rail spur had been extended along the river toward the
base of the dam to a point near the right diversion tunnel outlet.
The dam structure could be observed within the gorge. The 25X1
auxiliary dam and associated spillway were still under construction and the rail
spur to the construction support area had been completed.
The dam was of sufficient height to hold back some of the 25X1
river flow and-a -reservoir had been created. The reservoir level covered the
arch-type cofferdam.
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The core of the dam had been completed (Figure 2), and the
reservoir level had receded. The arch-type cofferdam (Item I, Figure 2) had been
damaged and some sections were displaced. The penstock control gate housings and
activity at the auxiliary dam, powerhouse area, and the spillway channel were
observed. The spillway flume (Item 12) had been completed. The covers of two of
the three turbines to be located at the base of the dam were observed in place
(Item II). A portion of the structure under the right bank which will contain
two turbines was visible (Item 10). Also observed were two sets of penstock con-
trol gate housings (Item 5) at the top of the dam and two discharge outlets within
the gorge (Item 13) which will serve the underground turbogenerators. A road and
a possible rail section had been constructed to the powerhouse area and will probably
be used to handle the generating equipment.
The main dam was nearly complete. A reservoir extending 25X1
for at least nm to the west had been created and the spillway flume was in
use. The section of the auxiliary dam between the spillway and main dam was
nearing completion, except for that area at the aerial cableway track which had
not advanced beyond the footing stage. North of the spillway,the earth-fill
extension of the auxiliary dam was nearing completion. Within the spillway run-
off channel, the protective concrete sides had been extended to the west and will
probably be completed to the gorge. No switching yard was observed.
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Maps
15th RTS. US Air Target Chart Series 200, Sheet 0384-IHL, 1st edition,
March 1964, Scale 1:200,000 (SECRET)
ACIC. USAF Operational Navigation Chart, Sheet G-9, 2nd edition, January
1963, Scale 1:1,000,000 (UNCLASSIFIED)
CIA. FIR 75010. Chinese Power Plants, Kansu Province, July 1966,
Requirement
EXSUBCOM - BR-N/002-69
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