The Jinbei (Northern Shanxi)—Nanjing 800kv High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission project started construction in both Shanxi and Jiangsu provinces simultaneously on June 29. The project aims to transmit up to 45 billion kilowatt hours (KWh) electricity from Shanxi to Jiangsu upon its completion in 2017.

"Jiangsu is an economically developed province with high demand for energy consumption. Lacking own energy resources, wemeet 90 percent of our primary energy need through other provinces. The HVDC project has a great significance in ensuring energy supply security and improving environmental quality", said Li Yunfeng, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Provincial Committee and executive vice-governor of Jiangsu, during a ground-breaking ceremony at the convertor station in Nanjing.

Stretching 1,119 km long and crossing six provinces, including Hebei, Henan, Shandong and Anhui, the Jinbei-Nanjing HVDC project is one of the 12 power transmission channels listed in China's National Action Plan on Air Pollution Control and Prevention.

With a transmission capacity of 8 million kilowatt and total investment of 16.2 billion yuan, the Jinbei-Nanjing HVDC project will bring many benefits to Jiangsu. The project will make clean and efficient use of coal resources in Shanxi. It is estimated that the project can reduce coal consumption by 20.16 million tons in Jiangsu, cutting down on air pollutant emissions.

Emissions of pollutants such as carbon dioxide can be cut by 39.6 million tons, while oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and sulphur dioxide can be reduced by 105,000 tons and 99,000 tons respectively.

Meanwhile, the project will increase the output value of related equipment manufacturing industry by 11.8 billion yuan, and attract direct investment of 65.5 billion yuan, creating jobs for nearly 18,000 people. It will also contribute 5.2 billion yuan to the GDP levels in both Jiangsu and Shanxi provinces.