Prysmian Power Cables & Systems Australia, part of energy and telecom cable systems manufacturer Prysmian Group, has been awarded a new contract worth approximately AUD $44million for 132kV underground high voltage cables for the North Shore cable upgrade project being undertaken by Ausgrid in NSW.

This comes on the back of a separate contract awarded in September 2013 for an Ausgrid project in Engadine, NSW, worth approximately $8 million.

These projects form part of Ausgrid’s network plans to replace ageing cables and equipment installed about 40 years ago and are located on Sydney’s North Shore and in the Engadine area just south of Sydney, with the contracts comprising design, manufacture, supply, civil works, installation and test of 132kV XLPE underground cables for both projects.

The Engadine project is currently in its final stages, with completion scheduled for late July 2014, after which works on the North Shore cable upgrade project will begin.

In delivering for Ausgrid, Prysmian will utilise its global expertise from various affiliates around the world including Australia, Europe and the Asia to assure timely manufacture, design and project management.

Prysmian’s China plant will supply a total of approximately 105km of 132kV cable, while China and the Netherlands will supply over 180 joints and outdoor terminations and Prysmian Australia’s Liverpool and Dee Why plants will supply Earth bonding cables and fibre-optic communications cables, respectively.

Frederick Persson, CEO of Prysmian Group in Australia & New Zealand, expressed Prysmian’s pride in working with Ausgrid on these important projects.

“These contracts have a strategic importance for Prysmian, underlining as they do our long-standing, leading position as a major supplier of an extensive range of products to power utilities, telecommunication carriers, electrical wholesalers and contractors, OEMs, the mining industry and petrochemical facilities,” Frederick says.