Construction began on the world's first 800-kilovolt direct current transmission lines in Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Chuxiong, southwest China's Yunnan Province, on Tuesday.

 

The project, undertaken by China Southern Power Grid, will have an investment of 13.24 billion yuan (US$1.66 billion) and extend 1,438 km.

 

Designed to send electricity from underdeveloped Yunnan province to Guangdong via Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the project will be completed in 2010.

 

The government is to continue to expand electricity transmission from resource-rich western regions to economically developed eastern areas during the 11th five-year-plan period (2006-2010).

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 20, 2006)