Electricity firm matching demand with sympathetic development

As summer approaches, Sayram Lake in Bortala Mongol autonomous prefecture within the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region begins to showcase its best scenery of the year, an event that attracts tourists from all over the country.

As the largest and highest-elevation alpine lake in Xinjiang, Sayram has been attracting around 80,000 tourists a day since June, setting a record high.

The increased number of visitors has led to a surging demand for electricity and, from June 1 to June 23, the area's total electricity consumption grew by 17.6 percent year-on-year to about 2.6 million kilowatts.

Against that backdrop, the State Grid Xinjiang Electric Power Company said it has given full play to Sayram's abundant wind resources and currently the tourist area utilizes only green energies.

In addition a new 110 kV substation is under construction on the west bank of Sayram.

Prefabricated fences and cables have been used for the project, to reduce concrete and masonry work, as well as the use of heavy equipment, said the company.

The enterprise added that effort will also be made to reclaim land occupied during construction and grass seed will be sowed over it.

When put into operation, the 110 kV substation is expected to promote harmonious coexistence between the power grid and natural scenery, thereby injecting fresh impetus into the growth of local tourism, the company added.

liuzizheng@chinadaily.com.cn