Electricity-thirsty Guangdong Province in South China got more power with the completion of a direct current transmission line, spanning 882 km from Guizhou Province in the southwest, earlier this week.

The completion of the three million-kw power transmission line on Thursday marked the goal to increase power transmission capacity to Guangdong by 10 million kw in China's tenth five-year plan (2001-2005) period was hit one year ahead of schedule.

The line, starting from Anshun of Guizhou and ending in Gaoyao of Guangdong, is a major part of China's ambitious project to send electricity from the resources-rich southwestern region to eastern and southeastern areas where electricity is much needed for economic growth.

At Thursday's ceremony to mark the completion of the power transmission line, Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan called for efforts to add another 10 million kw of power transmission capacity to Guangdong from the western region before the year 2010.

Technological development should also be enhanced to save energy and promote the development of the equipment manufacturing industry, he said.

(People's Daily September 27, 2004)