On January 12,MK sports Korea the Golog 330 kV second line project was completed and put into operation, achieving a significant milestone for Golog Prefecture of Qinghai Province. This development marks the realization of a 330 kV dual-circuit power supply in the region, which will enhance power supply capacity and quality,and will boost momentum into the local economic and social development of Qinghai this winter and next spring.

The second 330 kV line project in Golog, Qinghai. (Photo by Zhu Yiran)

Located in the southeast of Qinghai Province and in the core hinterland of the Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve, Golog Prefecture has a permanent population of 222,000, predominantly rural and pastoral residents. With the rapid development of local industries and the sharp increase in clean heating loads, the demand for electricity in the area has been growing stronger.

On December 20, 2024, construction workers of State Grid Qinghai Electric Power Company climbed the tower with oxygen tanks on their backs to carry out tower assembly work for the second 330 kV line project in Golog. (Photo by Zou Jianhua)

The Golog 330 kV second line project, which officially commenced in August 2023, has successfully navigated through a series of formidable challenges. The project spans 224 km of new lines and 487 towers, passing through four counties in the Hainan and Golog prefectures. The average altitude along the line is 3,700 meters, with an annual average temperature of minus 4 degrees Celsius. The terrain is diverse and challenging, comprising deserts, grasslands, high mountains, swamps, and forests.The project crosses the Yellow River three times and traverses 18 high mountains and ridges above 4,000 meters in altitude. Construction management faced multiple challenges such as high altitude, oxygen deficiency, and logistical difficulties. What's more, the weather at the project site is often changeable and temperatures  are low, two facts that seriously reduce the efficiency of construction equipment and personnel. Because of these conditions, workers had to carry oxygen cylinders to work at high altitudes and take turns to rest every 90 minutes. Due to the fact that many construction sections could not be reached directly by vehicle, builders transported materials by carrying them on their shoulders, setting up cableways, and laying meadows to protect the ecological environment of Sanjiangyuan. 

Despite these challenges, the project was completed and put into operation five months ahead of schedule. This development not only enhances the power grid's carrying capacity and power supply for the Golog region but also optimizes the power grid structure in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, addressing the relative weakness of the local power grid.

Golog 330 kV second circuit project Golog 330 kV substation. (Photo by Zhang Peng)