Assessing submarine cable after 26 years
Published on: Friday, May 29, 2015
Labuan: Commissioned in December 1989, the submarine cable linking Labuan and Sabah mainland is undergoing a massive and thorough investigation and life assessment.Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) has allocated RM2.5 million to undertake the project, with Japanese company – Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd – as the main contractor, supported by PPLS Systems Sdn Bhd.According to SESB Chief Engineer Hiew Zhi Cheun, the project is divided into four phases – Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA), Partial Discharge Test (PDT), Diving Investigation and Survey by Gauge Oil.ADVERTISEMENT After 26 years of laying the undersea cable, this was the first time the study was done.Hiew explained that it was not necessary to do an annual check-up as the routine monthly maintenance carried out showed no defect.The 132 kilovolt (kV) cable is 15 kilometres in length from the Tg Aru Cable Landing Station on the island to Lambidon in Menumbok.Navigation Aid along the route of the cable had forbidden anchoring to prevent damage, which is eight metres in depth of the sea surface.ADVERTISEMENT Makoto Doi of Sumitomo gave a thumbs-up to the condition of the cable from the Diving Investigation.The project is expected to be completed by July 5, Work began on April 6 and it was now 70 per cent done.
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The submarine cable was laid to improve the grid network and to provide back-up supply.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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The Patau Patau Power Station produces 104.5 MegaWatts, while the maximum demand on the island is 51MW daily. The excess is exported to Sabah via the submarine cable.