NGC Commissions 500KV North Grid to Improve CPEC Power Evacuation

LAHORE: the National Grid Company of Pakistan (NGC) on Monday commissioned the 500-kilovolt Lahore North Grid Station, a major power transmission project aimed at strengthening electricity supply to Punjab’s industrial heartland and improving evacuation of energy generated under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The project, implemented by NGC, has been completed at a cost of Rs. 20.7 billion with financing from the Asian Development Bank under its Multi-Tranche Financing Facility.

The newly operational grid station has a transformation capacity of 3,000 megavolt amperes (MVA) at the 500/220kV level and 750 MVA at the 220/132kV level. It is connected through 113 kilometers of 500kV and 45 kilometers of 220kV transmission lines, integrating Lahore with the national transmission network.

Officials said the grid station will play a critical role in evacuating power from major generation sources, including coal-fired plants developed under CPEC, while ensuring optimal utilization of the ±660kV Lahore–Matiari High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission line, a flagship corridor project jointly developed by Pakistan and China.

“This grid station is a strategic addition to Pakistan’s transmission backbone and directly supports power projects established under CPEC,” said NGC Managing Director Engr. Altaf Hussain Malik at the commissioning ceremony. “It will significantly improve system reliability, reduce transmission losses, and ensure stable electricity supply for millions of consumers.”

The Lahore North Grid Station is expected to ease pressure on existing substations in Lahore, Gujranwala and adjacent regions, while improving voltage profiles for industrial, commercial, agricultural and domestic consumers.

This strategic achievement underscores NGC’s vision of building a resilient, efficient and future-ready power transmission network capable of supporting Pakistan’s economic aspirations, as per the company’s statement which further added that by strengthening the transmission backbone serving one of the country’s most economically vibrant regions, Lahore North Grid Station represents “a cornerstone in ensuring energy security and supporting sustainable development”.

Pakistan has added thousands of megawatts to its generation capacity over the past decade, much of it through CPEC cooperation with China. However, officials acknowledge that strengthening transmission and distribution networks remains critical to fully realizing the benefits of these investments.