The National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) has successfully conducted its first-ever live-line maintenance on the crucial ±660 kV Matiari-Lahore HVDC transmission line, a flagship project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

 The operation was performed on Thursday on Tower 1885 near Lahore while the system remained fully energised, ensuring no disruption to the national grid, the state-run utility said in a statement. 

This marks a significant technical milestone for NTDC since the line's commissioning in 2021, Gwadar Pro reported on Sunday.

 Located near Lahore, Tower 1885 forms part of the northern section of the 878-kilometer HVDC corridor that transmits up to 4,000 MW of electricity from Matiari in Sindh to Lahore in Punjab.

 "The tower’s maintenance under live conditions demonstrates the company’s readiness to handle complex technical interventions without suspending the line’s operations, an essential capability for sustaining grid reliability," an NTDC official stated.

 Dr. Rana Abdul Jabbar Khan, General Manager (HVDC), who supervised the activity, commended the crew for their “exceptional professionalism, teamwork, adherence to safety protocols and dedication.”

 The Matiari-Lahore line, Pakistan's first HVDC project, was executed by China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Co., Ltd. (CET) and sponsored by the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC). 

It plays a vital role in stabilising the country's power distribution network and reducing transmission losses.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China