LAHORE: National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) has decided to rehabilitate various portions of the 500kV Hub-Jamshoro transmission line that are in dilapidated condition owing to impact of the sea and humid weather.

The company also plans to refurbish some portions of the 220kV Jamshoro-KDA and 220kV Tarbela-Burhan transmission line that continues running down due to ageing issue.

“Initially we have identified an eight-kilometre long stretch of Hub-Jasmshoro transmission line that is in dilapidated condition with massive rust due to impact of the sea and wind in the area. So for this our teams will get seven existing mega transmission line’s towers with conductors and other equipment with new ones. The rehabilitation of this portion will not only improve efficiency of the line but also minimise chances of tripping, breakdown etc in any sort of worst weather condition,” NTDC’s managing director Zafar Abbas told Dawn on Thursday.

The 500kV Jamshoro grid, which had been commissioned about 31 years before connects Hubco through one 500kV Sing Circuit In & Out arrangement at NKI Grid Station. Various portions of the line fall in the areas situated nearby the sea. Due to impact of the sea amid humid weather condition, towers, conductors and other equipment have appeared to be rusty posing threats to the smooth power transmission to the 132kV power distribution system. Similarly, the condition of some stretches of the Jamshoro-KDA and Tarbela-Burhan is also deteriorating fast.

“We have identified a 3-km stretch of the 220kV Jamshoro-KDA line that feeds the K-electric. Here we will also replace some old transmission towers, conductors / lines etc with new ones. Likewise a 5-km portion of the 220kV Tarbela-Burhan transmission line will also be refurbished with replacement of old/affected towers, lines etc with new ones,” Mr Abbas added.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2018