China's Highest-Altitude 220-kV Transmission and Transformation Project in Hotan, Xinjiang Achieves Full Interconnection

TapTechNews June 29th, today, on the Kunlun Mountains, known as the 'ancestor of thousands of mountains' in China, the 220-kilovolt transmission and transformation project in Hotan, Xinjiang, the highest-altitude project in China, achieved full interconnection. This is the first power transmission line to cross the Kunlun Mountains and also the project with the highest construction difficulty and highest altitude among domestic 220-kilovolt transmission and transformation projects.

According to the official introduction, the highest tower position of this project is 5,390 meters（about 17,684 feet）, nearly 40% of the lines are located above 4,000 meters（about 13,123 feet） above sea level, and the 5-kilometer line has an altitude of over 5,000 meters（about 16,404 feet）.

This project started construction in February 2023 and is planned to be put into operation before the end of July. It is the highest-altitude 220-kilovolt transmission and transformation project in China so far, setting a new record in the field of power grid construction in China.

The 220-kilovolt transmission and transformation project in Hotan County's rare metal industrial park has a total investment of about 586 million yuan. It starts from the 220-kilovolt Wutong substation in Moyu County and ends at the 220-kilovolt Lazuan substation. The line is 210 kilometers（about 130 miles）long and is one of the infrastructures for the development of the rare metal mining industry in Danhongliutan, Hotan County. It is also the only power project in China that has passed through seven meteorological sections so far.

TapTechNews learned from public data that this project has 8 sections, of which sections 1-7 are transmission projects, from the Gobi hills at an altitude of 1,300 meters（about 4,265 feet）to the high-altitude glaciers at 5,400 meters（about 17,717 feet）; section 8 is the 220-kilovolt substation and the transmission line project with an average altitude of 5,000 meters（about 16,404 feet）.

CCTV pointed out that along the Karakash River, this project has set up 560 power towers in 8 sections. After being electrified, it will improve the problem of unstable power use for mountain farmers and herdsmen in Moyu County, Hotan County, Pishan County and other mountainous areas in the Hotan region, and help the rapid development of industry in the Hotan region.