Fugro to Install New Undersea Power Cable in South Australia

The new 20,000 kVA/33,000 Volt cable will replace the existing 10,000 kVA/33,000 Volt undersea cable, which is reaching the end of its life. The subsea asset is a continuous 15-kilometre-long cable, weighing 600 tonnes and connects Kangaroo Island to the distribution network on the southern Fleurieu Peninsula, south of Adelaide.

Fugro will design and supply the power cable and will use its multi role support vessel, REM Etive, to install it across Backstairs Passage, from Fishery Beach on the mainland to Cuttlefish Bay on Kangaroo Island. “As a multi-disciplinary project delivery and subsea services provider, we operate high specification vessels and remotely operated technology, enabling Fugro to deliver turnkey solutions like this one,” said Marcus Hemsted, Business Development Manager at Fugro. “After installation of the cable our specialist team will also carry out commissioning and associated termination and connection works.”

Commenting on project operations, Paul Roberts of SA Power Networks said, “They are scheduled to commence during the last quarter of 2017 and we expect operations to take a couple of weeks. The new cable is expected to be operational by the middle of 2018.”

Kangaroo Island is the third largest island off the coast of Australia, situated 15 kilometres off the tip of Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia and has a population of about 4,500 people.