LAHORE: National Transmission and Despatch Company’s (NTDC) Hyderabad chapter has sought the immediate repair of the structure of one of the three repeater stations of the 600kV High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Matiari-Lahore transmission line.

Expressing concerns over the civil works of these projects, the NTDC’s Hyderabad Operation & Maintenance Chapter has also mentioned reservations of the project consultants on various issues related to civil works, Dawn has learnt.

“The role of the repeater station is very crucial for transmission of bulk power supply from Matiari to Lahore. This line has three repeater stations located at Salephat, Rahim Yar Khan and Hasilpur (Vehari),” explains a letter written to the CEO of the Pak-Matiari Lahore Transmission Company—the project executors.

“The telecommunication data and signal through fibre optics cable from Matiari converter station (meant for alternate to direct current/AC to DC) is received and boosted at repeater stations for transmission of telecommunication data and signal to Lahore converter station (direct to alternate current) and vice versa.”

“Since the protection scheme installed at the convertor stations heavily depends upon communication system, its collapse may fail transmission line protection,” warns the letter written by the project’s O&M chief engineer on Feb 16.

The department mentions the visit of the respective officer who intimated regarding the severe cracks and deteriorated condition of the repeater station at the Salephat building.

The acting NTDC managing director declined to comment despite repeated attempts to obtain his point of view.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2022