LAHORE: The National Transmission & Dispatch Company Limited (NTDC) has completed four more 500kV transmission lines for evacuation of electricity from power plants located in southern parts of the country.

The transmission line circuits have been connected with HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) converter station at Matiari -- a core component of the mega CPEC-funded Matiari-Lahore Transmission Line Project.

“Two 500kV transmission line circuits to evacuate power from 1,320 MW power from Port Qasim coal-fired plant and then getting it converted into direct current by the HVDC Matiari converter station has been energized already. The other two 500kV transmission line circuits for looping in/out with existing 500kV Jamshoro-Dadu Circuit-I have been energized and connected with HVDC converter station at Hyderabad.

Earlier, the said transmission line was feeding the grid through in/out arrangement at 500 kV Jamshoro-Dadu Circuit-II,” said NTDC Managing Director Dr Khawaja Riffat Hassan while speaking at a virtual inauguration ceremony here at Wapda House on Sunday.

The transmission lines completed shall further strengthen the 500kV NTDC network at Matiari Converter Station. This will also help and facilitate high power testing (2200MW) on 660 kV HVDC Matiari – Lahore transmission line starting on May 1, 2021.

According to an NTDC spokesman, for the evacuation of electricity from Sindh based power plants, NTDC had planned 10 circuits/transmission lines, out of which, eight 500 kV HVAC transmission line circuits have been completed / energized. However, the remaining two transmission line circuits will be completed subsequently.

“These lines will evacuate power from aforementioned power plant. Consequently, this power will be transmitted to the Northern load centres of the country through 660 kV HVDC Matiari – Lahore transmission line CPEC project,” he said, adding that the transmission facility will primarily be utilized to transmit power generated from indigenous Thar coal-based power generation projects with the aim to enhance the share of indigenous fuel-based generation while saving the significant amount of foreign exchange.

Meanwhile, the NTDC has set up Central Control Center at 220 kV grid station, New Kot Lakhpat to monitor stability of the Power System and keep a close liaison with National Power Control Centre and all Distribution Companies during Sehr, Iftar and Taraweeh timings.

“There should be no issue with the system that may lead to any trouble to the power supply to the people, especially during Sehar, Aftar and Taraveeh,” Dr Khawaja Riffat Hassan, NTDC Managing Director, said at a meeting with the officials at the centre. He said the centre would work round the clock under the supervision of GM (Asset Management) North and dedicated team will look after continuous and uninterrupted power supply to all distribution companies throughout the country.

He said that in order to meet any emergency Regional Control Centers of Asset Management at Islamabad, Multan, Hyderabad & Quetta have also been established.

“In case of a fault at any Grid Station or Transmission Line of NTDC across Pakistan, the control centre will monitor the team and material mobilisation directly,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2021