Nexans wins major cable contract from RTE
By:
Tom Russell
02/02/2021
Nexans
Nexans secured a frame
contract with Réseau de Transport d’Electricité (RTE), France’s Transmission
System Operator (TSO) for a three years (option for two additional years)
to deliver cables, accessories and installation services for underground
grid connections at 90 kV, 220 kV and 400 kV.
Nexans will support RTE’s projects to renew and upgrade France’s power
transmission network. A particular aim of these projects is to accommodate
new renewable generation capacity by ensuring the reliability of critical
network infrastructure. This includes major electrification projects including
wind farms, international interconnectors and grid reinforcement.
Gilles Etheimer, Purchasing Director of RTE, stated: "RTE's mission
is to adapt the power grid to the energy transition by guaranteeing the
security of power supply to the French people at a lower economic, environmental
and visual cost. As we have already had the opportunity to reiterate through
"The Greener Choice", an open letter sent by RTE, ELIA, REN,
TENNET, RED ELECTRICA, NG and TERNA to their suppliers in November 2020,
we expect the winners of our contracts to have a strong ambition regarding
environmental and societal issues. Nexans receives a significant share
of the volumes and we are counting on them as a long-term partner to continue
to make a difference both in terms of quality and the environment for a
more sustainable world.”
The high voltage cables will be manufactured at the Nexans plants in Bourg-en-Bresse,
France and Charleroi, Belgium, and the accessories in Cortaillod, Switzerland.
In addition, Nexans will train RTE teams in the installation of accessories
as well as providing fast repair services and maintaining strategic stocks
of cable for emergency repairs across France’s transmission network.
Christopher Guérin, CEO of Nexans, said: “As France’s Transmission
System Operator, RTE is at the center of the transition towards a more
sustainable and carbon-free world. By reinforcing our long term partnership
with RTE, we strengthen Nexans’ ambition to be a leader in electrification
and the global energy transition. The partnership extends well beyond this
frame agreement as we are working on individual projects such as supplying
the 225 kV power export cables for the Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm
in the English Channel. Together, RTE and Nexans are electrifying the future.”
