The first relocated transmission line under the Three Gorges power transmission corridor relocation project, a supporting component of the new Three Gorges shipping channel, has been connected to the grid, marking a phased breakthrough in the project.

The 35 kV Letan line, spanning 5.72 km and linking two substations, was successfully reconnected, according to a September 10 statement from China Three Gorges Corp.

The Three Gorges hydropower station, with a total installed capacity of 22.5 GW, serves as a backbone power source for China's west-to-east power transmission program, supplying electricity around the clock to central China, eastern China and Guangdong.

The transmission line relocation is a critical prerequisite for the smooth construction of the new Three Gorges shipping channel. The project team adopted an innovative green construction approach combining drone-based aerial lifting, mule-train mountain transport and coordinated operation of large equipment, addressing challenges posed by the deep mountain terrain and limited access for heavy machinery.

The new Three Gorges shipping channel project broke ground on June 8, with the power transmission corridor relocation launched simultaneously. A total of 48 transmission lines will be relocated. Power authorities are advancing the work under a construction plan that avoids the dry season and peak periods, relocates lines in sections and maintains ring-network power supply. Twenty key early-stage lines are expected to be relocated by the end of December.