Chunchen Wanbao (Kunming Evening News)
August 17, 2006

The Baoshan branch of the Yunnan Power Grid Company plans to build a power transmission ‘highway’ from Tengchong county in southwest China’s Yunnan province to Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin state in Burma.

According to sources, the Baoshan Branch of Yunnan Power Grid Company plans to build power transmission “highway” from Tengchong county (in Baoshan Prefecture) to Myitkyina (the capital of Kachin State). There are several tributaries of major river basins flowing through Baoshan Prefecture, namely Lancang, Nu and Irrwaddy. Those tributaries include Supa River (Nu-Salween), Binlang River (Daying-Irrawaddy), Longchuan River (Ruili) and Daying River (Irrwaddy). Dam cascades are now being built in both Supa and Binlang Rivers. By 2010, it is expected that 1,603 MW of small hydro will be developed, which will exceed 3,000 MW afterwards. In recent years, there are power surplus in flood seasons. Therefore, Baoshan exports hydropower to the neighbouring Dali Prefecture through the sub-stations. Supa River’s hydropower satisfies 64% of Baoshan’s electricity demand. After the completion of Chaoyang hydropower station on Supa River, the installed capacity will reach 200 MW. Since then, the Supa River hydropower company will invest in Longchuan River’s hydropower development. They also plan to build hydropower stations on both Longchuan and Binlang River, to satisfy the growing economy in Tengchong and export electricity to Myitkyina in Myanmar.