PPIB supports HVDC Matiari-Lahore Line project

ISLAMABAD: The Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) has issued a letter of support (LoS) to the 660kV High Voltage DC (HVDC) Matiari-Lahore Transmission Line Project which is being developed by China Electric Power Equipment & Technology Co Ltd (CET) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)--a combination of transport and energy projects.

The Matiari-Lahore project is not only the first transmission line project being developed by the private sector, but it will also be the first ever HVDC transmission line in Pakistan which features converter stations at both ends and grounding electrode stations near Lahore and Matiari. 

The HVDC transmission system offers many advantages for power transmission over longer distances in terms of more transmission capacity, lesser losses and cost effectiveness.   It will be bipolar HVDC technology, having approximately 880km length and will evacuate more than 4,000 megawatts of coal-based electricity from projects in Sindh province.

The projects which will be connected with Matiari switching stations for power transmission through this HVDC transmission line include Engro Thar Unit I & II (660MW); Thar Coal Block-1 (Shangai) (1,320MW); Port Qasim (1320MW) Hub Power at Port Qasim (1320MW).