By David Stanway SINGAPORE (Reuters) -China has broken ground on what it says will be the world's largest hydropower project, a $170 billion feat capable of generating enough electricity each year to power Britain.

The location in the remote and sparsely populated Tibetan borderlands has the potential to cause environmental and political ructions.

China said it has talked with countries downstream about its new dam project in Tibet, a massive undertaking that will affect a key source of water for India and Bangladesh.