• Taipower began the renewal project for the first Banqiao-Longtan EHV power transmission line (EHV Line 1) 18 years ago. A completion ceremony was held Today (March 6). Premier Su Tseng-chang, Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua, Executive Yuan Minister without Portfolio and Spokesperson Lo Ping-cheng, Minister without Portfolio Huang Chih-ta, Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan, Legislators Wu Chi-Ming, Cheng Yun-peng, Huang Shih-Chieh and Tang Hui-Jane, and others attended the opening ceremony to witness the important moment of Taiwan's power construction.

Taiwan's power consumption is increasing year by year, and maintaining a stable power supply has become an important issue. Taipower's 18-year renewal project for the first Banqiao-Longtan EHV power transmission line (EHV Line 1) was completed at the end of last year (2020), followed by trial operation for three months. The completion ceremony was held today (March 6) to announce its official launch and operation. Premier Su Tseng-chang, Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua, Executive Yuan Minister without Portfolio and Spokesperson Lo Ping-cheng, Minister without Portfolio Huang Chih-ta, Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan, Legislators Wu Chi-Ming, Cheng Yun-peng, Huang Shih-Chieh and Tang Hui-Jane, and others attended the opening ceremony to witness the important moment of Taiwan's power construction.

According to Taipower, the old Banqiao-Longtan EHV Line 1 was completed in 1974. For decades, it had provided stable power for the livelihood and economic development of the Taiwanese people. However, with economic growth, the transmission capacity of the old line could no longer meet the demand for electricity. In 2003, Taipower began the line renewal plan to replace the trunk of the existing line with new lines on both sides. Taipower pointed out that the new Banqiao-Longtan line is 40 kilometers long and has 105 iron towers. After completion, it can transmit an additional 1.97 million kW of energy financing. Moreover, to further strengthen the tower structures, reinforced concrete foundation is used to increase their resistance against wind and earthquake. This ensures a higher quality and more stable power supply to the northern region. Taipower indicated that in order to reduce the impact of the project on people living along the line, the section of the transmission line passing through the Shihmen Reservoir was straightened to allow the line to span across the reservoir over a long distance. The longest section of the overhead line has a span of 960 meters. It is more than twice the 300- or 400- meter distance between general overhead lines, making it the first such feat in the nation.

In the completion ceremony, Premier Su Tseng-chang presented a medal engraved with the words, "A line spanning mountains and rivers, delivering power to light up Taipei and Taoyuan" to thank the many "power heroes" for working day and night. In her speech, Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua expressed her gratitude to Taipower for completing the major power construction and providing stable power for Taiwan's economy and people's livelihood. Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan mentioned that with the rapid growth in Taoyuan's economy and population, the completion of the Banqiao-Longtan EHV Line 1 for power transmission is of great significance to power supply in the northern region. Chairman of Taipower, Yang Wei-fuu emphasized that "stable power supply" is the calling of Taipower. In addition to thanking the community for supporting this project, he also expressed sincere gratitude to Taiwpower's frontline colleagues for their hard work.

Taipower pointed out that the new Banqiao-Longtan Line passes through high mountains. Many of the iron towers are erected in deep mountains that lack convenient transportation, and construction had to be carried out through long distance walking and manual excavation. The process was very difficult and time-consuming. Tsai Chai-dong, the current chief foreman of the North District Construction Office, joined Taipower in 1984 and has served for nearly 40 years. He led his colleagues in the new Banqiao-Longtan Line project. Tsai recalled that during that time, he sometimes had to carry out construction during the night and live a nomadic life of "from one work site to another work site." In order to complete the project within the tight schedule, he could only return home once in a very long while. He always looked forward to going home with eager anticipation. Chiu Hsuan-chia, inspector of the North District Construction Office, was involved in the new Banqiao-Longtan Line project for 13 years, during which he had inspected 54 iron tower foundations. Chiu Hsuan-chia said that many senior employees also worked hard in the project until the day they retired. The new Banqiao-Longtan Line is not only a legacy passed down from Taipower's old generation to new generation, but also the fruit of the hard work of many unsung heroes.

During the completion ceremony, Taipower also carefully planned a cultural resource display wall. In addition to showcasing the Five Treasures of Banlong (short for Banqiao and Longtan) rarely seen by the public, namely power relics such as loop plates; insulators; dashpots; intervalometers and lead cables, many aerial photos documenting the heroic "spiderman" postures of engineers working tens of meters in the air were also displayed. Taipower hopes that by exhibiting relevant cultural relics and images at this completion ceremony, the nation's public could gain a deeper understanding of the importance of power engineering and its contribution.

Spokesperson: Chang Ting-Shu, Chief Administrator

Telephone: (02)2366-6271/0936-625-552

Email: u742433@taipower.com.tw

Contact Person: Huang Ching-Sung, Director of the Power Transmission and Transformation Projects

Telephone: (02)2322-9700/0920-785-256

Email: u742837@taipower.com.tw