At the heart of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region’s Gobi Desert, a team of engineers and technicians is racing to finish the final stretch of a 750-kilovolt (kV) power grid. This critical segment winds through the Kunlun Mountains, rolling desert hills, and ever-shifting sands—conditions that push both man and machine to the limit.
Armed with advanced drilling rigs and sand-resistant equipment, crews battle frequent sandstorms and extreme temperature swings, advancing at an average rate of 1.5 kilometers per day. Once sealed, the loop will span 1.08 million square kilometers around the Tarim Basin, delivering stable, high-voltage power to southern Xinjiang.
“Every tower we erect in these dunes represents a leap toward a modernized energy future,” says a lead engineer on site. Beyond boosting regional reliability, the grid will enable direct integration of solar and wind farms, ushering in a new era of renewable energy supply.
More than a technical feat, the project aligns with broader development goals. Reliable power will attract clean-tech industries, support new mineral processing hubs, and energize irrigation systems along the desert-mountain frontier.
For young global citizens tracking sustainable innovation, the Tarim Basin grid offers a vivid example of how remote infrastructure drives real-world impact—powering economies, protecting communities, and lighting the way toward greener horizons.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
