15 June 2006
Mineral water reserves found along Golmud-Lhasarailway route
(Xinhua) According to the geological and minerals exploitation bureau in the TAR, a mineral water source in Damshung (Chin: Damxung) county capable of supplying 3,000 tons of drinking water a day has been discovered. The discovery is the largest of more than 100 mineral water sources that have been found along the Golmud-Lhasa railway, which is scheduled to go into operation on 01 July 2006. Lu Yan, a senior engineer with the bureau, said that areas along the railway are rich in lead, zinc, copper and mineral water resources. Lu and his colleagues began searching for mineral water sources along the route in 2001 when construction began. Lu said that bottling water could generate annual revenue of one billion Yuan (UK£68million; US$125m; EUR€99m). "We have been thinking about what can be transported from Tibet to inland areas of China along the railway, now we find it is mineral water", said Lu. "Development of Tibet's mineral water resources will not only contribute to cargo transportation on the railway, it will also increase the value of local mineral water resources", he said