New high-voltage line to revolutionise grid

State-of-the-art system will help cut transmission losses currently put at 17%

The first high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line in the country connecting the southern Karachi region to Lahore in the northeastern region was officially launched yesterday.

Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the milestone 660kV (kilovolt) HVDC Matiari-Lahore transmission line. The 886-km-long project has been constructed under the framework of the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“The state-of-the-art HVDC system will help reduce power losses” as Pakistan is currently facing 17 per cent line losses during transmission and distribution of electricity across the electric grid which is causing loss of billions of rupees, the premier said.

The country’s first HVDC line project stretches from Matiari in Sindh to Lahore in Punjab province and will be capable of transmitting up to 4,000MW of electricity. At least 1,973 towers have been constructed under the project.

Speaking at the launch event, Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar said the government completed the project within the set time frame despite pandemic restrictions. “The project is now operational after vigorous testing in the last six months.” The system will reduce transmission bottlenecks and technical losses and improve the transmission network reliability, he said.

CPEC investment

Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong said the new power project will improve the safety and reliability of the grid system, optimise energy distribution of the entire country and lower the electricity cost. The project has been operationalised under CPEC which has brought $25.4 billion investment in Pakistan and generated 75,000 jobs, he said.

The $1.65-billion transmission project has been developed on a build, own, operate and transfer basis by the State Grid Corporation of China through the special purpose company Pak Matiari-Lahore Transmission.