Asia-Pacific News

Latest news and developments from Asia-Pacific region

• Pakistan’s PPIB supports development of 660 kV HVDC line

  August 10, 2017
  Pakistan’s Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) has issued a letter of support (LoS) for the ±660 kV Matiari–Lahore high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line project, which is being developed by China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Company Limited (CET) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

• Nepal’s NEA invites bids for high voltage line and substation

  August 10, 2017
  State-owned Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has invited competitive bids from Indian companies for the plant design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the 220 kV Basantapur (Terhathum district)–Dhungesangu (Taplejung district) double-circuit transmission line and a 132/33 kV substation in Dhungesangu.

• Work on Nepal’s 220 kV substation to complete by October 2017

  August 8, 2017
  Work on the 220 kV substation in Dhalkebar associated with the Dhalkebar–Khimti–Lamusangu–Bhaktapur transmission line is expected to meet the extended completion deadline of October 2017 set by state-owned power company Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

• New Zealand government proposes progressive programme for tower removal

  August 8, 2017
  The New Zealand government has proposed to develop a progressive programme to remove old transmission towers and replace existing overhead transmission lines with underground cables, particularly in environmentally-sensitive areas of New Zealand.

• Adani Transmission acquires equity shares of two SPVs from RVPN

  August 7, 2017
  Adani Transmission Limited (ATL), part of the India-based conglomerate Adani Group, has acquired 100 per cent equity share capital of two special purpose vehicles (SPVs)—Barmer Power Transmission Service Limited (BPTSL) and Thar Power Transmission Service Limited (TPTSL) from state-owned transmission utility Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited (RRVPNL).

• Pakistan’s WAPDA to spend PKR18 million on transmission network improvement

  August 7, 2017
  Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) will spend around PKR18 billion for the improvement of transmission systems, and upgradation of grid stations and feeders in Multan, Shaiwal , Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur divisions of Pakistan during 2017-18.

• Nepal proposes cross-border transmission lines with China [free access]

  August 7, 2017
  The Nepal government has sent a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) to the Chinese government for the joint development of cross-border transmission lines between the two countries.

• World Bank invites consultancy services for transmission projects in Nepal

  August 4, 2017
  The World Bank has invited international bids to prepare right-of-way (RoW) management policy for transmission line projects in Nepal under the World Bank Group-funded Power Sector Reform and Sustainable Hydropower Development Project.

• Taiwan to increase tower circuits to improve national grid durability [free access]

  August 3, 2017
  State-owned Taiwan Power Company is planning to increase the number of electrical circuits installed on transmission towers to improve the durability of Taiwan’s national power grid.

• China’s Huawei helps PEA to modernise its transmission network in Thailand

  August 3, 2017
  Chinese multinational Huawei has helped Thailand’s Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to modernise its power transmission and transformation network as the backbone of smart grid, with the development of a unified transmission solution customised specifically for PEA.

• Philippines’ NGCP awards GE construction contract for 500 kV transmission system

  August 2, 2017
  The private concessionaire of the Philippines’ high voltage network National Grid Corporation of Philippines (NGCP), has awarded a construction contract to GE Grid Solutions for implementing the 500 kV Hermosa–San Jose transmission line and substation in Hermosa.

• Competitive bids invited for 500 kV lines and bay extensions of CASA 1000 project

  July 28, 2017
  Intergovernmental Council (IGC) CASA 1000 has invited bids for the supply and installation of transmission lines and associated bay extensions in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan under the Central Asia South Asia 1000 (CASA 1000) project.

• China to extend T&D pricing reforms to cross-regional transmission lines

  July 26, 2017
  The Chinese Government is planning to extend its transmission and distribution (T&D) pricing reform to include cross-regional transmission lines connecting the provincial grids of transmission network.

• Pakistan government allows unparalleled tax breaks for 660 kV DC line in Pakistan

  July 26, 2017
  The Pakistan government has allowed unparalleled tax breaks for the execution of the USD2.1 billion, 660 kV Matiari–Lahore transmission line project, which is being developed by China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Company Limited (CET) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

• Indian State’s fourth 400 kV wind power substation to be operational by 2018

  July 24, 2017
  Work on the fourth 400 kV wind power substation at Thappukundu (Theni district) in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu is likely to complete by 2018.

• Nepal and USA to sign MCC grant agreement by September

  July 24, 2017
  The United States and the government of Nepal will sign a five-year Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) investment grant agreement worth USD630 million by September 2017.

• Malaysia’s RTB acquires 75 per cent stake in HG Power Transmission

  July 24, 2017
  Malaysian Rohas Tecnic Bhd (RTB) has entered into a conditional share sale agreement (SSA) with local companies PT Safe Tower Systems Sdn Bhd (PTSTS) and Kemuncak Agresif (M) Sdn Bhd (KAMSB) for the proposed acquisition of 75 per cent stake in HG Power Transmission Sdn Bhd (HGPT)—an engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) firm, at a purchase consideration of MYR114.16 million.

• Philippines Napocor commissions 69 kV project in Catanduanes

  July 24, 2017
  The Philippines' state-owned power utility National Power Corporation (Napocor) has commissioned the 32-km-long 69 kV Codon–Virac transmission line and the 10 MVA Virac substation to supply electricity to 55,000 households and reduce power interruptions in the province of Catanduanes.

• Pakistan government signs loan agreement with AFD for power sector projects

  July 24, 2017
  The Pakistan government has signed a loan agreement worth EUR165 million with Frech development agency Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to finance two energy sector projects—Power Transmission Enhancement Investment Tranche-IV and Mangla Power Plant Rehabilitation Project in Pakistan.

• India's state utility commissions 220 kV substation

  July 24, 2017
  India's state-owned vertically-integrated power utility Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), has commissioned the 220 kV Kattakkada substation in Trivandrum city of the Indian state of Kerala.