PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
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In April, 1981, the first stage of a far-reaching project to interconnect the supply systems of the Hongkong Electric and China Light and Power (CLP) by cross-harbour submarine cables was inaugurated. For the first stage development, six 120 MVA/132 kV submarine cables were installed. Initially only two of the six cables were connected from HEC's North Point substation to CLP's temporary substation at Hok Un through two 132 kV/66 kV 80 MVA transformers. In later stages the interconnection's capacity will be increased to three 240 MVA circuits. Owing to the establishment of this cross-harbour link, power supply can be adjusted to meet demand on an economical basis.
China Light and Power Company Limited supplies electricity to Kowloon and the New Territories, and a number of outlying islands including Lantau. Generation of electricity is carried out by CLP and its associated companies, Peninsula Electric Power Company Limited (PEPCO) and Kowloon Electricity Supply Company Limited (KESCO). Both PEPCO and KESCO are financed 60 per cent by Esso and 40 per cent by CLP. PEPCO owns the power stations at Tsing Yi ‘A' (762 MW), Tsing Yi 'B' (800 MW) and Hok Un 'C' (240 MW). Four gas turbine units of KESCO (264 MW) are housed at Hok Un while another four sets (240 MW) were commissioned at Castle Peak 'A' station during the year. Operation of plants owned by PEPCO and KESCO is in the hands of CLP, which also has its own stations Hok Un 'A' and 'B' (total 350 MW). The combined capacity of CLP, PEPCO and KESCO at the end of 1981 was 2 656 MW.
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Work on Castle Peak ‘A' station, the new power station being built by KESCO at Tap Shek Kok, proceeded smoothly during the year. The station will have four dual coal/oil- fired 350 MW units in addition to the gas turbines commissioned in 1981. The first 350 MW unit in the station will be commissioned in 1982, followed by another unit in each of the subsequent three years.
A decision was made during the year to build another power station, Castle Peak 'B' station, adjacent to the 'A' station to cope with the forecast increasing demand for power in the future. Castle Peak 'B' station will have four 660 MW coal-fired units, scheduled to be commissioned between 1986 and 1989. A new company, Castle Peak Power Company Limited (CAPCO), has been incorporated to own the station. Shares in this new company are held 60 per cent by Esso and 40 per cent by CLP, the same arrangement as adopted for PEPCO and KESCO.
Transmission is carried out at 132 kV and kV, while distribution is effected mainly at 33 kV, 11 kV and 346 volts. The supply is 50 hertz alternating current, normally at 200 volts single- phase or 346 volts three-phase. For bulk consumers, supply is available at 33 kV and 11 kV. Work continued during the year on the staged development of an extra high voltage transmission system to transmit power from the Castle Peak power stations to the various load centres. The new network, at 400 kV, will comprise 87 kilometres of double-circuit overhead line encircling the New Territories, 14 kilometres of cables and six extra high voltage substations. The first phase of the network between Castle Peak and Tai Lam Chung was commissioned during the year, permitting the transfer of power from the gas turbine units at Castle Peak 'A' station to the 132 kV system.
The company's system is also interconnected with that of the Guangdong Power Company of China and electricity is exported to Guangdong Province each day. The interconnection results in better utilisation of the company's generation plant during off-peak demand period and provides the facility to feed power from Guangdong to the company's system when necessary.
Main electricity statistics for 1981 as well as electricity sales figures for 1979 to 1981 are shown in Appendix 34.