China Considers Building A Dam To Protect Russia

(RFE/RL) 8 December 2005 -- A report in a Chinese government-run newspaper says China is considering building a river dam to reduce the impact of a toxic chemical spill that is heading toward Russia.

The "China Daily" report said the dam could be built on a waterway linking the Heilong river and the Wusuli river, which merge to form the Amur near the Russian Siberian city of Khabarovsk.


The report cited an unidentified Chinese water resources department source. No official confirmation was available.


China has promised to work closely with Russia to minimize the impact of the spill of 100 tons of carcinogenic benzene compounds. The toxic slick was caused by a 13 November explosion at a chemical plant in northeast China.


(AP/chinadaily.com)