Upgrading the Power Grid in Remote Tibet

Alan Taylor
August 7, 2017
21 Photos
In Focus

In Tibet’s Hengduan Mountains, workers are hauling thousands of parts over challenging terrain by mule and by hand to build huge transmission towers for the Tibet Electric Power Networking Project. The complex power transmission project is designed to join and upgrade Tibet’s current disconnected and underpowered power transmission systems. The project is due to be completed in 2018.

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A mule carrying parts for construction of an electric tower walks up a mountain on July 30, 2017 in Qamdo, in Tibet Autonomous Region, China. #

Wang He / Getty

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Electric towers under construction on July 31, 2017 in Ranwu, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. #

Wang He / Getty

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A worker builds an electric tower on August 2, 2017 in Nyingchi, Tibet Autonomous Region. #

Wang He / Getty

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Mules rest after carrying parts for construction of an electric tower on July 30, 2017 in Qamdo, Tibet Autonomous Region. #

Wang He / Getty

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A worker rests after leading mules carrying parts for construction of an electric tower up a mountain on July 30, 2017 in Qamdo. #

Wang He / Getty

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A mule carrying steel parts for construction of an electric tower is unloaded in Qamdo on July 30, 2017. #

Wang He / Getty

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Mules carry electric tower pieces up a mountain on July 30, 2017 in Qamdo. #

Wang He / Getty

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A mule carries parts for construction of an electric tower on August 2, 2017 in Nyingchi,Tibet Autonomous Region, China. #

Wang He / Getty

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A team of two mules carries a heavy steel part of an electric tower on July 30, 2017, in Qamdo. #

Wang He / Getty

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An electric tower built by workers in Ranwu, Tibet Autonomous Region, on July 31, 2017. #

Wang He / Getty

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Mules carry steel parts in Nyingchi,Tibet, on August 2, 2017. #

Wang He / Getty

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Workers build an electric tower on August 2, 2017 in Nyingchi, Tibet. #

Wang He / Getty

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A mule carries steel parts up a mountain on July 30, 2017 in Qamdo. #

Wang He / Getty

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Workers assemble an electric tower on August 2, 2017 in Nyingchi, Tibet. #

Wang He / Getty

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A mule carries steel parts on July 30, 2017 in Qamdo. #

Wang He / Getty

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Construction of an electric tower on August 2, 2017 in Nyingchi, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. #

Wang He / Getty

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A worker on the Tibet electric power networking project pauses on August 2, 2017 in Nyingchi. #

Wang He / Getty

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Grooms make alterations to a mule's hoof after a day of work on August 2, 2017 in Nyingchi. #

Wang He / Getty

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A groom collects river water after a day of work on August 2, 2017 in Nyingchi. #

Wang He / Getty

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A groom cooks at camp after a day of work on August 2, 2017 in Nyingchi. #

Wang He / Getty

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A rainbow shines over electric towers under construction on July 26, 2017 in Qamdo, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. #

Wang He / Getty

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