Kangaroo Island Project
- Procurement, Installation and commissioning of the longest continuous marine cable in Australia. Kangaroo Island is supplied via a single 33,000 Volt submarine cable from the main land & a single 33,000 Volt power line from Cuttlefish Bay to Kingscote. In 2016 it was recognised that the continuous Transmission Grid supply to KI was vulnerable due to an single point aged asset.
- Working with the AER a need was established and solutions assessed on their individual merits. A new 33kV transmission cable following the same route as the previous cable was deemed the most cost effective method of maintaining the transmission supply. Therefore SA Power Networks proposes to install a new submarine cable in 2018, ideally prior to failure of the existing cable.
- Jai Project Solutions was the senior management team on the project ensuring the timely delivery and commissioning of the project. This required complex engineering solutions to extraordinary problems.
- The cable was scheduled to cross the dangerous stretch of water called Back Stairs Passage. This is a notorious strait between the mainland and Kangaroo Island. It has exceptionally fast tidal currents and is renown for its rough and unpredictable conditions. Added to this the local of various exclusion zones not to mention the sub terranean structures and the local Flora and Fauna.
- The cable laying required the co-ordinated efforts of Cabe ships, helicopters, shallow draft barges and engineers and linesmen from all over Australia. Directional drilling was the preferred method for running the cable down the cliff faces on the island. There was also a significant investment in community engagement on both sides of the channel.
- The cable was installed and went live in 2020.