wiredinUSA May 2014

INDEX

Cable route survey

Wire rod investment

Aluminumproducer UC Rusal is to invest over $5.5 million in aluminum-zirconium wire rod production at the Irkutsk aluminum smelter (IrkAZ). Initial samples of the products have already been certified by consumers. Rusal’s aluminum-zirconium wire rod has been certified by Russia's leading cable producers. Rusal has signed a contract with Seco Warwick to supply electrothermal equipment to IrkAZ. Under the agreement, the equipment will be supplied to the production site in September 2014, with planned production levels expected to be reached in early 2015. Once thermal treatment equipment is installed, IrkAZ wire rod production capacity will increase to 3,000 tonnes per year. JSC Russian Grids will be the major consumer of aluminum-zirconium wire rod in Russia. The use of conductors made from aluminum-zirconium wire rod instead of traditional rod is expected to result in a two-fold increase in transmission capacity over existing power lines.

Svenska kraftnät has awarded the contract for the Själland cable survey to MMT. Svenska kraftnät, and its Danish counterpart, Energinet.dk, are the owners and operators of the 400kV HVAC cable system across the Öresund, between Sweden and Denmark. MMTwill investigateandverify thefeasibility of the proposed submarine cable route. This marine survey will cover geophysical information such as bathymetry, surface geology and sub-bottom conditions. MMT will also perform a geotechnical investigation, cable tracking, and identification of cable crossings. The offshore operations will be performed from the 40m Icebeam, MMT´s survey and ROV vessel, and the coastal surveys from the survey vessel Seabeam. The operation will begin this spring.

EUROPE NEWS

wiredInUSA - May 2014

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