ABB bucks crisis to sustain Mongolia's anti-desertification

ABB declared that it will continue to honor its commitment against desertification despite the challenges posed by the economic crisis.

"We believe ecological degradation poses a more serious challenge than the economic crisis," said Senior Vice President of ABB China Bernd Muehe during the announcement of the start of Phase III of the anti-desertification programme in Inner Mongolia with the Inner Mongolia Power Co, Ltd and the Ordos Power Supply Bureau.

Beginning in 2007, the first two phases of the project have achieved remarkable results, effectively curbing drift sand along the 110kv high-voltage transmission lines outside Ordos City. The summer vegetation coverage rate for the area has been improved to over 50 percent.

"After the conclusion of the anti-desertification project, it will effectively improve the operating environment of the local power line corridor in Inner Mongolia, ensure the power supply and improve the climate and environment all the way to Beijing," explained Muehe.

"Inner Mongolia is a primary energy source for China, meeting one sixth of the power demand from Beijing. The Maowusu desert not only endangers the livelihood of local residents and the ecological environment of Beijing, it also poses a challenge for high-voltage power lines and power supply reliability," said Zhang Jingsheng, Deputy General Manager of the Inner Mongolia Power Co., Ltd.