Areva’s Transmission and Distribution (T&D) division plans to upgrade load despatch network facilities at Pakistan’s National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC).

The firm will install its e-terra solution systems to allow NTDC to securely manage its fast-growing and highly demanding network, the company said in a statement.

Areva will also develop and commission a new optical and telephone backbone to link 60 transmission substations and major national power plants to the National Control Centre in Islamabad.

The project will be carried out in partnership with Viscas, a Japanese company specialising in underground and overhead power cable engineering and transmission systems.

Work is due to be complete in 2011.