YICHANG, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Three Gorges project, the world's largest hydropower project, has generated over 1.7 trillion kWh of electricity. It marked the 30th anniversary of its construction on Saturday.

The amount is equivalent to saving 550 million tonnes of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 1.49 billion tonnes, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.

The project's first hydropower generator unit was put into operation to generate electricity in July 2003.

The project has intercepted floods nearly 70 times, demonstrating comprehensive benefits and contributions to high-quality economic and social development.

It has improved navigation of the Yangtze River, with a cumulative cargo throughput of over 2.1 billion tonnes and an annual average economic benefit of 34.4 billion yuan (4.78 billion U.S. dollars).

The project has regulated and supplemented water for the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River for 2,732 days, with a total water supplement of over 360 billion cubic meters. This can help ensure drinking water supply and irrigation for the middle and lower reaches.

The ecological environment in the Three Gorges Reservoir area has improved. The daily sewage treatment capacity has increased by 1.58 million tonnes. The forest and grass coverage in key areas has increased, with a forest coverage rate exceeding 50 percent, thus enhancing soil and water conservation capabilities.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service■