The Aba-Chengdu East 1,000 kV ultra-high voltage (UHV) alternating current transmission project was fully connected on August 26, laying the groundwork for trial operation by the end of the year, according to the Sichuan provincial government.

The project, spanning 734.8 km with more than 1,400 newly built towers, runs from the Aba 1,000 kV substation to the Chengdu East 1,000 kV UHV substation, passing through Aba, Mianyang, Deyang and Ziyang. Of the total towers, 186 are located above 3,000 meters in elevation, posing significant construction challenges.

Following the full connection, work will proceed on line accessory installation, substation electrical installation, defect elimination, commissioning and acceptance, with trial operation expected by the end of this year.

Once operational, the project will transmit abundant hydropower from western Sichuan to the Chengdu-Chongqing region, delivering over 15 TWh of clean electricity annually to support the high-quality development of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic zone.