found that the underground reservoir has a capacity of 36bn cubic metres, and that more than 1bn cubic metres is exploitable annually from more than 50 water sources – the equivalent of building more than 10 major reservoirs in the area. In addition, the geologists have found fresh water of drinking quality in a 140 sq metre groundwater distribution area in the eastern part of the Lop Nur area.
Over the past two years China has invested some Yn40m in prospecting for groundwater in the northwest.