China to import electric power from Russia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan

BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) -- China will import electric power from bordering countries by building power plants overseas, according to Liu Zhaoshao, Chief Economist of the State Grid Corporation of China.

The projects in Russia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan are being researched, Liu said at a recent forum on strategic development and investment of energy.

Agreements with the three countries have been signed and details are under negotiation, he said.

The preliminary plan in Mongolia is to build three power plants, each with an installed capacity of 3.6 gigawatts. The first plant is expected to start operation by 2010, said another Liu, also from the State Grid Corporation.

Apart from supply to Mongolia, most of the power generated in the plants will be transmitted to China to meet the electricity demand of China's northern regions.

Construction of the three plants may be carried out by domestic companies while the State Grid will build the transmission lines.

According to Liu Zhaoshao, the project can not be launched until it receives permission from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's energy policy maker and project authorizing institution.

The power plants in Russia will be constructed by the Russian side and power will be transmitted to China.

The project in Kazakhstan, which is planned later than the projects in Russia and Mongolia, will follow a similar process to Mongolia, he said.

China has also negotiated with other bordering countries such as Kyrgyzstan to import electricity by building power plants.