Xinhua News Agency reporters recently visited the Zafarabad 220 kV digital substation project in Uzbekistan’s Jizhak Oblast and learned that the country’s first digital substation, constructed by a Chinese enterprise, has been completed.
According to the project manager, Shanghai Electric Group Co., Ltd. (referred to as “Shanghai Electric”) won the bid for the project in 2021. As another achievement of energy cooperation between China and Uzbekistan, this project has received high attention from various levels of departments in Uzbekistan.
It is reported that the core equipment of the digital substation project is two 250 megavolt ampere autotransformers, independently developed and produced by Shanghai Electric. They will reduce the voltage from 220 kV connected to the higher-level power grid to 110 kV and then transmit it to local users.
It is reported that as the first digital substation in Uzbekistan, the project overcame challenges such as multi-party collaboration, language communication, and technical debugging. Through optimized configuration and comprehensive training, the construction was ultimately completed on time. The substation adopts advanced monitoring and data acquisition system, which significantly reduces the number of maintenance personnel compared to traditional substations, while significantly improving the safety and efficiency of operation and maintenance. In emergency situations, network monitoring can quickly locate faults and directly adjust power loads.
Project engineer Julabek Isrolov participated in project document management and construction progress coordination. He said, “My Chinese colleagues are very professional and friendly, and we cooperate very well in our work. Working with everyone makes me very happy
Local employee Otabek Abdullayev is the driver for the project department. With rich experience and excellent communication skills, he has become a versatile member of the team. During the peak construction period, he took on the responsibility of a transportation dispatcher, assisting truck drivers in safely arriving at remote construction sites and ensuring smooth material transportation. No matter what task he faces, he always takes the initiative to ensure the smooth progress of the project. He said, “I am always on standby as long as the project requires it
Now, Abdullayev continues to reside in the project site with Chinese colleagues to provide logistical support for the team. I deeply feel the friendliness and responsibility of my Chinese colleagues. My greatest wish is to have the opportunity to visit China and learn and progress together with my Chinese colleagues
It is reported that after the digital substation project is put into use, it will add 400 megawatts of electricity supply to the local area, greatly alleviate the problem of local power shortage, improve power supply reliability, and provide strong support for economic development.