Once completed, the projects will supply power for the "west-to-east power transmission" program, an important component part of China's "Developing the West" strategy.

The program aims to transmit cheap, clean electric power from western China to the economically dynamic and energy-hungry Guangdong province and other eastern coastal areas, creating win-win results for both east and west and promoting the sustainable growth of the national economy.

Under the state plan, Guizhou will play a vital role in the west-to-east power program. It would increase its power capacity by 8 million KW from 2001-2005, of which 4 million KW would be transmitted to Guangdong province, said Zhang Tianxiang, in charge of coordinating the program in the province.

Currently, he added, Guizhou was capable of transmitting one million KW of electricity outside the province.

Boasting rich resources for hydroelectric and thermal power generation, Guizhou started building eight power plants including Hongjiadu, Sufengying and Wujiangdu hydroelectric power stations and the second phase of the Anshun Power Plant and Jienbei Thermal Power Plant from November 2000, with a combined installed capacity of 5.38 million KW.

Preparations are well underway for another batch of potential power supply projects in the province, involving a combined installed capacity of 11.4 million KW.

The power transmission program is said to provide an excellent opportunity for Guizhou to develop its provincial economy. Zhao Jiaxing, an economic planner and direction of the provincial development planning commission in Guizhou province, said that the construction of thermal power projects would increase demand for coal in the province and nearby areas for thermal power generation by 35 million tons added annually between 2001 and 2005. By the end of the five-year period (from 2001 to 2005), Guizhou would be able to produce 66 million tons of coal each year.

(People's Daily January 11, 2003)