China Power | Environment | East Asia

Tibet’s Role in China’s Green Energy Supply Chain

Tibet stands at the forefront of China’s wind, solar, and hydropower. But the Tibetan people have no say over how their resources are used.

A solar power station on the Tibetan plateau in Chcina.

Amid the global shift to renewable energy, China leads the world in manufacturing and processing capacity. It is building major green infrastructure in Tibet, including large solar projects and the planned Metok (Motuo) mega-dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo. Many batteries used in clean technologies also depend on materials produced in the region. Tibet therefore stands at the forefront of China’s green energy development across wind, solar, and hydropower.

Recently, a newly identified chromite deposit was discovered in the Dongqiao region near Amdo Town in Amdo County, Nagchu Prefecture, adding over 1.1 million tons of associated chromite ore resources. The Luobusha mining area in Chusum County, Lhokha Prefecture, holds another 738,300 metric tons of chromite resources. China has also identified a new source of high purity quartz in Tingkye County, Shigatse City, aiming to reduce reliance on imports of this critical material used in solar panels and semiconductors, according to the South China Morning Post on June 8. These developments reflect China’s accelerating exploration of strategic minerals in Tibet.

Critical minerals, which are increasingly becoming strategic resources, are abundant in Tibet. Tibet plays an important role in China’s copper supply chain and generates significant economic benefits. Some of the largest mines under Chinese state control are located there, including the Yulong Copper Mine, which contains copper, molybdenum, iron, and gold. In 2024, Yulong’s copper production was approximately 159,100 metric tons. From January to September 2025, it produced 125,000 metric tons of copper. Its industrial output value reached 11.6 billion yuan in 2025, making it the first enterprise in Chamdo and the second in the Tibet Autonomous Region to exceed 10 billion yuan in output value. 

The Julong copper mine in Tibet offers a similar example. Once its third phase is completed, it is projected to produce 350,000 tons annually, making it the largest standalone copper mine in China. Together, these developments show how rapidly the scale and pace of mining in Tibet have expanded in recent years.

China has also expanded mining in high-altitude areas that were previously difficult to access. One example is Zijin’s mining project, which has been made possible by technological advances at an elevation of around 5,000 meters above sea level. However, operating at such extreme elevation could cause serious environmental damage.

While Chinese companies clearly profit from mineral extraction, an important question remains: where do these profits go?

China presents itself as a green energy powerhouse, a portrayal that has received global appreciation. But some of its landmark renewable energy projects are damaging the environment and local livelihoods – especially in Tibet. 

The Khamtok Dege Dam, known in Chinese as Gangtuo, is located on the Drichu, the upper Yangtze River, and has already raised serious environmental and social concerns. Once completed, the dam is expected to submerge six monasteries and displace at least 4,287 residents. Among the monasteries at risk is the Wontoe Monastery, built in the eighth century and known for its 14th-century Buddhist murals. 

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