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Water security implications of coal-fired power plants financed through China's Belt and Road Initiative

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  • Alkon, Meir
  • He, Xiaogang
  • Paris, Aubrey R.
  • Liao, Wenying
  • Hodson, Thomas
  • Wanders, Niko
  • Wang, Yaoping

Abstract

As the world's largest proposed infrastructure program, China's Belt and Road Initiative will have significant implications for water security, sustainability, and the future of energy generation in Asia. Pakistan, a keystone of the Belt and Road Initiative, presents an ideal case for assessing the impacts of the Initiative's energy financing. We estimate the future water demands of seven new Chinese-financed, coal-fired power plants in Pakistan with a total capacity of 6600 MW. While these facilities may help address Pakistan's energy shortages, our results indicate that by 2055, climate change-induced water stress in Pakistan will increase by 36–92% compared to current levels, and the power plants' new water demands will amount to ∼79.68 million m3. Our findings highlight the need for China and the Belt and Road Initiative's destination countries to integrate resilience and sustainability efforts into energy infrastructure planning. Policy recommendations are offered to permit both sustainable development and responsible water resource management.

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  • Alkon, Meir & He, Xiaogang & Paris, Aubrey R. & Liao, Wenying & Hodson, Thomas & Wanders, Niko & Wang, Yaoping, 2019. "Water security implications of coal-fired power plants financed through China's Belt and Road Initiative," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 1101-1109.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:132:y:2019:i:c:p:1101-1109
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.06.044
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    Cited by:

    1. Yin Su & Weijun Gao & Dongjie Guan & Tai’an Zuo, 2020. "Achieving Urban Water Security: a Review of Water Management Approach from Technology Perspective," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 34(13), pages 4163-4179, October.
    2. Lin, Boqiang & Bega, François, 2021. "China's Belt & Road Initiative coal power cooperation: Transitioning toward low-carbon development," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    3. Liu, Haiyue & Wang, Yile & Jiang, Jie & Wu, Peng, 2020. "How green is the “Belt and Road Initiative”? – Evidence from Chinese OFDI in the energy sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    4. Bhandary, Rishikesh Ram & Gallagher, Kelly Sims, 2022. "What drives Pakistan’s coal-fired power plant construction boom? Understanding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s energy portfolio," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 25(C).
    5. Pengbang Wei & Yufang Peng & Weidong Chen, 2022. "Climate change adaptation mechanisms and strategies of coal-fired power plants," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 27(8), pages 1-22, December.
    6. Jonathan Doh & Pawan Budhwar & Geoffrey Wood, 2021. "Long-term energy transitions and international business: Concepts, theory, methods, and a research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(5), pages 951-970, July.
    7. Bega, François & Lin, Boqiang, 2023. "China's belt & road initiative energy cooperation: International assessment of the power projects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).

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