Tibet's Role in China's Green Energy Supply Chain and Resource Development

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 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. In addition to China’s hydropower expansion, the installation of solar panels across Tibet has accelerated sharply. According to a study by Dr. Nityananda, Tibet’s unique geography gives it strong potential for solar farms and other renewable energy projects. His mapping and analysis showed that solar panels are expanding rapidly across Tibet. This growth, however, appears to be driven not only by clean technology goals but also by a broader policy agenda. The expansion of solar farms is presented as beneficial for Tibet’s ecology. However, Sangay Tashi’s research suggests that it is difficult to definitively assess whether such projects are truly helpful. Instead, deep uncertainty remains about how this widespread construction of solar farms may disrupt traditional cultural practices and ways of life in the future. Despite these concerns, China has reacted by cracking down on those who raise concerns about Tibet’s ecological, cultural, and social landscape. According to Save Tibet, Chinese authorities arrested more than 1,000 Tibetans during protests against the Khamtok Dege Dam. Separately, Tsongon Tsering was reportedly suppressed for speaking out against illegal Chinese mining practices in Tibet. Soon after, mass arrests and a communication blackout occurred in Kham Zachuka following the discovery of gold deposits at Serkhok. China has evidently failed to follow the principles outlined in Critical Energy Transition Minerals, a 2025 document prepared by the U.N. Secretary-General’s Working Group on Transforming the Extractive Industries for Sustainable Development. The guidance emphasizes seven key principles for responsible resource extraction, including human rights, environmental protection, equity, and justice. In Tibet, these core principles are not being upheld. This year, China released a new mining regulation, scheduled to take effect on July 15. According to Xinhua, China’s state news agency, the law “aim[s] at strengthening the conservation of mineral resources and ecological environment, advancing the high-quality development of the mining sector, and safeguarding mineral resource security.” Yet China has a poor track record of upholding legislation relating to the rights of its citizens over its companies. The value of the law remains questionable if the government does not enforce it in practice. As China builds some of the world’s largest solar, hydropower, and wind projects, Tibet is at the epicenter. Mineral exploration and extraction in Tibet are also intensifying, again to fuel the green energy industry. As China’s energy demand continues to rise, Tibet has the potential to play a significant role in China’s green energy supply chain. These developments pose serious environmental risks and carry significant social and geopolitical implications. Although China presents its green energy expansion as an environmental initiative, unsustainable mining and rapid hydropower development in Tibet are turning the region into a resource hub for China’s energy transition. If green energy is genuinely intended to support environmental protection, China should follow the guidelines issued by the United Nations. Tibetan communities should be meaningfully consulted on these projects, and their voices taken seriously. Source: The Diplomat Indonesia