NTDC Achieves Landmark Live Maintenance on CPEC Power Line
The National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) has achieved a historic technical feat by carrying out its first-ever live-line maintenance on the ±660 kV Matiari-Lahore HVDC transmission line — a flagship energy project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The groundbreaking maintenance took place on Tower 1885, located near Lahore, while the system remained fully operational. NTDC confirmed that the activity was completed without any interruption to the national grid, marking a major milestone since the project’s commissioning in 2021.
Spanning 878 kilometres, the Matiari-Lahore HVDC line transmits up to 4,000 MW of electricity from Sindh to Punjab, playing a crucial role in ensuring consistent and efficient power supply across regions. Conducting maintenance under live conditions demonstrates NTDC’s advanced technical capabilities and readiness to address complex operational challenges without halting power delivery.
Dr. Rana Abdul Jabbar Khan, General Manager (HVDC), who oversaw the maintenance, lauded the engineering team for their “exceptional professionalism, strict adherence to safety protocols, and strong teamwork.”
Developed by China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Co., Ltd. (CET) and sponsored by the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), the Matiari-Lahore HVDC transmission line remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s modern power infrastructure. This successful operation reinforces the ongoing partnership between Pakistan and China in strengthening the nation’s energy stability and reducing transmission losses under the CPEC framework.