Nexans has been awarded a contract by China’s Sinohydro Corp to supply the extra high voltage power cable link for Ecuador’s 1500MW Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric project currently under construction in the Amazon Basin. It is the largest energy project in Ecuador’s history.
Nexans will supply 7km of single-core 500 kV XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) insulated power cable, with a 1600mm2 copper cross-section, together with associated accessories, to transmit power generated from the new dam on the Coca river to the local substation for distribution into Ecuador’s power grid. The cable will be manufactured during 2013 and delivered in 2014.
Nexans Yanggu New Rihui, Nexans’ recently acquired power cable business of Shandong Yanggu Cables Group, strengthens the Group position in China, by supplying both the Chinese market and its customers with low, medium and high voltage power cables.
"This 500 kV contract with Sinohydro is a very important development for Nexans as it is an important reference in the EHV sector with this key Chinese contractor," said Hervé Ros, manager of the Nexans Land High Voltage Business line in China.
The Coca Codo Sinclair Project is located in Ecuador’s Napo Province. It will house eight generation units with a total installed capacity of 1500MW. Its annual energy output of 8.8BkWh will meet one third of the power demand in Ecuador.