Nexans Makes Final Cable Delivery Connecting Labrador to Newfoundland

May 18, 2018

Nexans has completed a six-year project to design, manufacture, supply and install approximately 100 km of subsea high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable and accessories for Nalcor Energy’s Strait of Belle Isle Marine Cable Crossing in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The project, which now connects Labrador with Newfoundland, reached its conclusion when Nexans delivered the final 2.3 km length of cable. It provides a spare ready for use.

The 350 kV HVDC cables used for the project, based on Nexans’ mass-impregnated design, include three lengths of submarine cables with an integrated fibre-optic element, together with underground cables that were used for the land connections at either side of the strait. The accessories comprise joints, spares and terminations. The subsea cables were installed in water depths of up to 110 m by Nexans’ own installation vessel, the C/S Nexans Skagerrak.

One of our greatest challenges in this remote area was the sea ice as well as dense fog and cold weather,” says Peggy Aasheim, Nexans project manager for the Strait of Belle Isle project. Despite these challenges, the project was completed safely and successfully.

The Strait of Belle Isle Marine Cable Crossing is a key element in the overall Lower Churchill Project, which includes construction of an 824 MW hydroelectric generating facility and more than 1,600 km of transmission lines across the province.

Find out more about the Lower Churchill Project: https://nalcorenergy.com/nalcor-operations/lower-churchill-project/