The third power generator of China's Three Gorges Project began operation after it was connected to the power grid Monday morning.

Zhang Cheng, director of the Three Gorges Hydraulic Power Station, said the generator, known as the No. 3 generating unit and built by the multinational consortium VGS, has a generating capacity of 700,000 kw. It was put into trial operation on Aug. 2.

The first two 700,000-kw generators in service at the hydropower station began commercial operation in July this year.

By Monday, the hydropower station had generated 1.1 billion kwh of electricity, said Zhang.

According to Yang Qing, deputy general manager of the China Yangtze River Three Gorges Project Development Corporation, four generators -- and possibly six if everything goes well -- will be operational this year.

Launched in 1993 and expected to be completed in 2009, the Three Gorges Project has begun to pay dividends recently, playing an important role in flood control, power generation, navigation, water diversion and environmental protection.

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2003)