Olex wins bid to supply cable in Niue.
05 Sep 2011
Niue Power Corporation (NPC) is a trading department of the Niue Government, mandated with the generation and distribution of electrical energy to the citizens of Niue.
This includes end user billing, credit control, maintenance and operation and the regulatory aspects of electrical distribution and installations in Niue.
Generation is primarily via diesel powered generators located at a single point (Tuila –Niue). There are also some minor solar panel systems.
The electrical distribution is via 11kV (11,000 Volt) overhead power lines and underground HV cables.
Background:
The existing HV cables installed in the late 1970’s were having failures, so it was agreed that completely replacing the current cable with new cable was the only long term solution.
Olex was selected as the successful bidder after international competitive bidding for this supply contract under European Union External Funding No: FED/2010/258-676, financed by EDF, for the Supply of High voltage Power Cable for Niue Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Programme.
Implementation / Impact:
NPC had previously purchased ~8km of 11kV XLPE cable from Olex as a replacement for old cable that had developed faults.
Under this project, the supply of a further 44km of 11kV cable from Olex New Zealand was required to complete the 65km of underground high voltage network on Niue Island.
It was the Olex New Zealand manufacturing unit that designed and supplied the 3Core 50mm2, compacted aluminium conductor, TR-XLPE insulation, copper wire metallic screen, water blocking tape, LLDPE/HDPE dual sheath, 6.35/ 11kV Triplex Cable, manufactured to AS/ NZS 1429.1.
The cable was supplied on both 500m and 1000m drums via Auckland for shipment to Niue.
Installation / Civil Works:
The longevity of underground cabled power reticulation is almost entirely dependent on installation, jointing expertise and compliance with manufacturing recommendations.
Niue Power, under the guidance of Paul Johnson, has very competent cable jointers, and the project was supported by the technical teams from Olex New Zealand and Australia, especially during the early phases of the project.
Onsite and workshop training was provided to specialist staff at NPC to ensure good workmanship throughout the project.
The cable trenches were cut into the berm of the gravel road edge. There was some scrub and tree clearance that was necessary to allow for machinery access, however trench reinstatement and compaction back to ground level was done.
With proper care and maintenance Niue can expect a trouble free life in excess of 40 years from the cables, their joints and terminations.
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