China's growing energy independence

[northernsoul]

I remember some discussion of how the only thing holding China back from competing with us as a bona-fide global superpower was their relative lack of energy independence. However, when the Three Gorge hydroelectric project gets completed that situation might radically change as China will now a have a massive supply of cheap electricity.
Here's some info I found after a quick google search, but I'd be curious to hear what other DUers with knowledge in the area know about this and think about the geopolitical and economic implications

http://www.yangtze.com/gallery/scenery/yichang/tgp-proj.html

Currently under construction at Sandouping, the Three Gorges Project is the largest hydro-electric project in the world at present scale which is now attracting world-wide attention. The arguments on this project never cease. Possessing comprehensive utilization benefits mainly for flood control, power generation and navigation improvement. It will be a vital important and backbone project in harnessing and developing of the Yangtze River. The whole project will be completed in the year of 2007 as planned.

http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/rivers/River%20Articles/hydroelectricpowerstation.htm
The massive Three Gorges hydro-electric power scheme is being built across the Xiling Gorge on the Yangtze Rriver in China. The dam will be about 2 kilometres long and 100 metres high. The Three Gorges dam will supply electricity to Shanghai and large areas of China. The reservoir will stretch 6 kilometres behind the dam. The project is planned to finish in 2010.

http://cgee.hamline.edu/rivers/Resources/river_profiles/journey/dam.html
energy production--through hydroelectric power generation it is estimated that 15 percent of China's electricity will be produced, saving an estimated 50 million tons of coal.