Shenzhen launches first power facility protection competition

A view of Shenzhen’s illuminated skyline. The city’s inaugural power facility protection competition aims to safeguard the reliable operation of its power grid. File photo

Shenzhen launched its first power facility protection competition Sept. 1 to strengthen safeguards against construction-related damage to the city’s power grid, particularly during major events.

The competition is co-hosted by China Southern Power Grid (CSG) Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau and the Shenzhen Office for Power Facility Protection and Anti-Electricity-Theft Management.

Designed around participants’ day-to-day work, the competition adopts a prevention-driven approach and is open to all contractors conducting work within power facility protection zones across the city.

The competition uses an innovative “non-intrusive” model. Without disrupting normal construction operations, evaluation teams will conduct comprehensive, quantitative and ongoing assessments of measures taken throughout the construction process to prevent damage to power facilities. These include signing damage-prevention agreements, preparing safety plans, implementing protective measures on-site and rectifying potential hazards.

The competition marks the first time the two organizers have incorporated the prevention of construction-related damage to power facilities into routine project operations through a competitive assessment program. The initiative aims to establish a comprehensive evaluation system and long-term supervision mechanism covering the entire damage-prevention process. It is also intended to shift power facility protection from responding to incidents after they occur to preventing them before they happen.

“Through this competition, we hope to build broader consensus and encourage greater cooperation across society to protect power facilities, while encouraging construction contractors to take primary responsibility for preventing damage,” said Ye Jun, general manager of the Asset Management Department at CSG Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau.

“Our goal is to balance urban development with safe power grid operations and provide a solid energy foundation for Shenzhen’s high-quality economic and social development,” Ye added.

The competition will run through December, with the winners to be announced in January 2027. The evaluation results will also be taken into account in participants’ future project approval and construction permit applications.