On October 3rd, 2016 (local time), the 132 km 500 kV transmission line of the B loop line at section A7 of system C of the 500 kV Extra-high Voltage Transmission Project, system C interval of the ElINGA 500 kV substation, and system C interval of the San Rafael 500 kV substation contracted by HEI successfully completed power transmission. With the unremitting efforts of HEI’s construction personnel for three years, HEI has made another milestone achievement following the official operation of system B on March 5th and system A on June 26th.

The Ecuador 500 kV Extra-high Voltage Transmission Line Project involves a EPC contract between HEI and CELEC EP as well as the operation and maintenance of the 500 kV power transmission line system. The scope of the work includes feasibility research, design, supply, construction, commissioning, trial run and the operation and maintenance of the 500 kV system. The total project schedule is divided into two parts, namely EPC and operation and maintenance. EPC will take 1,185 days, while operation and maintenance will take 730 days. System C runs from the primeval forest to Quito through the Andes mountains. It passes through a marshy plains area in the no man’s land zone of the primeval forest to a plateau area with frozen soil at a highest elevation of 4,252m. In order to provide the owner with an efficient and high-quality power transmission line project, since the official commencement on July 26th, 2013, HEI’s construction personnel have actively cooperated with the owner, maintained close communication, formulated scientific work plans, reasonably allocated their efforts to meet construction resources, design, construction and SHE requirements, and overcome complicated operation layers. Taking into account the adverse impact of rain and frogs all year round at the boundary of the plains and the plateau, they developed special plans for construction in the rainy season based on the nature of the tropical rainforest climate, as well as special measures for construction in the highlands based on the nature of plateau tundra, and gave special instructions for carrying out pile foundation work on rough terrain where construction can hardly be carried out based on the nature of forests and plateaus. It is their efforts that ensure the continuity of the construction. By virtue of a series of extraordinary design and construction methods, HEI has successfully completed the power transmission line of system C of the 500 kV Extra-high Voltage Transmission Line Project, which will be used for power transmission to the Coca Codo Sinclair Hydropower Plant Project, the largest power generation project in Ecuador.

With the smooth implementation of the 500 kV Extra-high Voltage Power Transmission Line Project, the 500 kV backbone power grid is available at a national level in Ecuador. Upon completion, it will be used for power transmission to the two largest hydropower stations in Ecuador, helping the country to achieve the goal of the overall promotion and application of clean energies.