Grid interconnection to ease Tibet power shortages

A power grid interconnection project which is expected to ease power strains and boost the economy in Tibet is now under construction, authorities said on Friday. The Sichuan-Tibet grid interconnection project is expected to be completed in 2015, and it will link Qamdo in Tibet Autonomous Region and the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze in Sichuan Province, according to the Qamdo branch of the Tibet Electric Power Company Limited under the State Grid Corporation of China. The 1,561 kilometers of lines will be laid at the plateau with an average altitude of 3,850 meters. The high altitude and mountainous landform make the project a difficult one to complete. Officials with the local government of Qamdo said after completion, the power grids of Qamdo in Tibet and Batang in Sichuan will be integrated into the Sichuan grid, which will greatly improve the two grids' power supply ability and ease power shortages in the regions. The Qinghai-Tibet grid interconnection project ended the isolation of the Tibetan power grid when it was put into operation in October 2011.