The remaining sections to be constructed are an underground power station with six turbine-generators currently being excavated beneath a mountain on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, and a lift for vessels on the river northern bank.

The project started construction 18 years ago. Its main works includes a dam and a five-tier system of navigational locks. In addition it also provides a degree of flood control. It has had 26 turbine generators in operation, which by the end of 2010 had generated more than 440TWh of electricity since first output in 2003.

Upon completion, the complex should be able to generate 100TWh of electricity a year.