Bangladesh’s 400 kV Leadership
For many years, the value of CTC Global’s ACCC® Conductor has been most visible in reconductoring projects, where utilities have doubled line capacity without replacing or modifying existing structures. Those successes - across thousands of kilometers of 11 kV to 345 kV systems - have helped modernize grids from North America to Africa. Yet they have also created a misunderstanding: that ACCC® Conductor is primarily a tool for short, thermally constrained, lower-voltage lines.
The truth is far broader. ACCC® Conductor was engineered for long-distance, high-voltage, high-capacity transmission, and its most powerful advantages emerge precisely in those environments. These advantages are why ACCC® Conductor was selected for a major section of China’s 1,100 kV DC transmission system - the highest-voltage overhead line in the world - and why an increasing number of countries are turning to ACCC® Technology for new 400 kV and 500 kV corridors.
A compelling recent example comes from Bangladesh, where greenfield 400 kV lines demonstrate the full potential of ACCC® Technology on a national stage.
A National Leap Forward in High-Voltage Transmission
Bangladesh’s decision to construct several major 400 kV greenfield transmission lines – in this case the Barapukuria–Bogura segment and the Bogura–Kaliakoir segment - marks a decisive turning point in the country’s grid development. These lines form the backbone of a strategic north-to-central transmission corridor designed to move large volumes of power across long distances, support industrial expansion, and strengthen regional connectivity with India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
This expansion is central to Bangladesh’s Vision 2041, which emphasizes resilient, efficient energy infrastructure as the foundation for economic growth and electrification. To support these goals, Bangladesh selected the ACCC® Conductor, not because tower constraints demanded it, but because ACCC® Conductor offers the best combination of efficiency, reliability, current-carrying capability, and long-span performance for a new class of EHV infrastructure.
Why ACCC® Conductor Excels on Long EHV Lines
Long-distance 400–500 kV lines are built for one purpose: to move very large amounts of power reliably, efficiently, and with predictable mechanical performance. ACCC® Conductor provides exactly that.
Its carbon fiber composite core exhibits extremely low thermal expansion, high strength, high capacity, light weight and very high strength, allowing it to maintain safe clearances over long spans even under heavy electrical loading. This characteristic alone can reduce the need for taller structures or closer tower spacing, especially in areas where terrain or land acquisition constraints make line routing difficult or expensive.
Just as important, ACCC® Conductor carries significantly more current than steel-reinforced alternatives of the same diameter and weight. That increased ampacity translates directly into higher bulk transfer capability on every circuit kilometer. On long lines - 100, 200, even 300 kilometers - this enhanced capacity offers not just operational flexibility but long-term strategic value, as growing demand can be met without expanding rights-of-way or adding additional circuits.
The conductor’s lower electrical resistance also creates major systemwide benefits. Over long distances, incremental reductions in line losses accumulate into very real annual savings - fuel savings, emissions reductions, lower operating costs, and more efficient use of generation resources. Bangladesh recognized these long-term efficiency gains as part of the ACCC® value proposition, and it is precisely this attribute that led China to integrate ACCC® into its 1,100 kV UHVDC system.
Finally, ACCC® Conductor’s strength-to-weight ratio offers tangible engineering advantages, particularly in challenging terrain. For Bangladesh, where large portions of the transmission route run through waterlogged paddy fields, the lighter and stronger ACCC® Conductor design reduced structural loads and helped simplify tower design without compromising reliability.
The Barapukuria–Bogura Line: A Model of Technological Execution
The first of the two segments, the 112 km Barapukuria–Bogura line, was executed by Tata Projects Limited. Construction began on August 30, 2023, and was completed within a 14-month window - an impressive achievement given the seasonal flooding, difficult foundation conditions, and the need to coordinate extensive civil and electrical work across remote areas.
ACCC® Dhaka size Conductor manufactured by Apar Industries was delivered on schedule and installed with on-site training and oversight from CTC Global’s Master Installers. Stringing operations proceeded with notable efficiency and with no safety incidents associated with the conductor or hardware installation, despite tower sites that often stood above submerged rice paddies and required creative access solutions, complex equipment placement, and extensive foundation engineering.
The Bogura–Kaliakoir Line: High Performance at High Pace
The second segment, the 131 km line from Bogura to Kaliakoir, was delivered by KEC International Ltd. and energized on March 29, 2025. This project also used ACCC® Dhaka size Conductor - manufactured for this segment by Sterlite Power - and relied on a broad international supply chain that included PLP hardware and regional subcontracting support.
Installation progressed with remarkable speed. Guided by a CTC Global Master Installer, KEC crews achieved stringing rates averaging 39 km per week and reaching 44 km per week during peak periods - exceptional performance for a 400 kV double-circuit line with difficult terrain and numerous angle locations. This pace was possible because both the conductor system and the installation teams were well-prepared, well-trained, and well-coordinated.
Throughout the project, special attention was devoted to the mechanical integrity of all dead-ends, mid-span joints, and suspension systems. With thousands of field connections and hundreds of towers, the quality assurance effort reflected the critical role this corridor will play in Bangladesh’s transmission future.
Engineering for the Environment
The geography of northern Bangladesh introduced unique technical challenges. Much of the transmission route crossed soft-soil floodplains that remain submerged for part of the year. To accommodate these conditions, engineers relied on pile foundations for every tower, ensuring stability under wind loading, thermal expansion, and conductor tension.
At angle towers, where mechanical stresses intensify, tower spotting and hardware placement required careful modeling of conductor tension and sag behavior - another area where ACCC® Conductor's low thermal expansion and predictable mechanical properties simplified design decisions. Construction teams also worked to minimize disruption to agricultural cycles, adjusting work sequencing and equipment movement to accommodate local communities and planting seasons.
A Regional Energy Asset with Long-Term Benefits
Fully commissioned, the Barapukuria–Bogura–Kaliakoir corridor serves as a high-capacity superhighway for power, strengthening the country’s ability to import electricity from neighboring countries, balancing generation resources, and maintaining stable system frequency and voltage across industrial and population centers.
The use of ACCC® Conductor will further reduce transmission losses - cutting energy waste and lowering generation costs - while providing the headroom needed for future load growth without requiring new rights-of-way. As Mahbub Ahmed of Sustainable Development Associates (SDA) noted, the project demonstrates how advanced conductor technology, paired with local expertise and international collaboration, can deliver measurable progress toward Bangladesh’s sustainable development goals.
A New Standard for Long-Distance, High-Voltage Transmission
Bangladesh’s landmark 400 kV lines illustrate a truth that the industry is increasingly recognizing: ACCC® Conductor is not limited to reconductoring projects. It is an essential tool for building the next generation of long-distance, high-voltage transmission infrastructure.
Whether spanning 100 km or 1,000 km, carrying 230 kV or 1,100 kV, ACCC® Technology provides a combination of capacity, efficiency, and mechanical performance that traditional steel-reinforced conductors simply cannot match. As global electricity demand grows and policymakers seek rapid, scalable solutions for decarbonization, ACCC® Conductor stands out as one of the most powerful, proven, and immediately deployable tools available to transmission planners worldwide.
Bangladesh’s achievement is not just a milestone - it is a blueprint. It shows what is possible when a nation pairs advanced technology with disciplined execution and visionary infrastructure planning. And it sends a clear message to utilities everywhere: when the goal is long-distance, high-voltage, high-capacity transmission, ACCC® Conductor is not just an option - it is often the optimal choice.