West-east transmission begins second phase
The southeastern Guizhou Province of China has begun phase II of its west-to-east power transfer development. The project covers four hydroelectric and eight coal-fired power plants with a total installed capacity of 16,840 MW and which began back in 2003. According to an agreement between Guizhou and neighbouring Guangdong Province, Guizhou should transfer the equivalent of 4 GW of capacity in 2005.
In other power transfer news, meanwhile, the vice chairman of Russia’s RAO UES has reportedly met Liu Zhenya, general manager of the State Grid Corporation of China with the intention of developing a long-term cooperation agreement. The moves suggest China is considering opening negotiations with Russia about electricity imports after years of suspension.