The 2018 Tibet-China power grid interconnection project was put into operation

On November 23, 2018, with the completion and commissioning of the Tibet-Central Power Grid Interconnection Project, this power transmission and transformation project with the highest altitude, the largest altitude span and the most complex natural conditions in the world officially provides reliable power supply for 3,070 small towns (central villages) and 1.56 million people of all ethnic groups along the project.

The Tibet-Central Power Grid Interconnection Project consists of the Tibet-Central and Qamdo power grid interconnection project and the power supply project of the Lhasa-Nyingchi section of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway. It starts from Mangkam County, Qamdo City, Tibet, and ends in Sangri County, Shannan City. It crosses three cities and ten counties in Tibet and crosses the snowy plateau. The construction conditions are harsh, and the transportation of materials and the health protection of personnel are very difficult. The total investment of the project is about 16.2 billion yuan, and 16 500 kV and supporting engineering substations will be newly built and expanded, and 2,738 kilometers of 500 kV and supporting engineering lines will be newly built.

After the completion and operation of the Tibet-Central Power Grid Interconnection Project, the history of isolated grid operation in the central and eastern parts of Tibet has been completely ended. The main grid of Tibet has achieved a leapfrog upgrade from 220 kV to 500 kV, and the ability of Tibet's power grid to optimize the allocation of energy resources has been significantly improved. At the same time, the project also provides safe and reliable power supply for the Sichuan-Tibet Railway, which is of great significance for promoting the economic and social development of the Tibetan area, enhancing national unity, and consolidating the national defense security of the border areas.

The pace of building a unified power grid in Tibet is still continuing. The Ali interconnection project, a key project known as the "last mile" of building a unified power grid in Tibet, was officially started on September 17, 2019. The construction of the project will completely end the long-term isolated operation history of the Ali power grid, form a unified power grid in Tibet, and realize the configuration of clean energy in the southwest region on a larger scale. State Grid Corporation of China will continue to accelerate the development of the Tibet power grid, expand the scale of regional interconnection, and enhance the power supply guarantee capability. It will strive to achieve interconnection of power grids across Tibet by 2020, promote the transformation of resource advantages into economic advantages, and make new contributions to the economic and social development of Tibet and the long-term stability of the border.