RTE, the French transmission system operator, has contracted with five suppliers – Prysmian, Nexans, NKT-SolidAl and Hellenic Cables – to secure underground power cables for its projects until 2028. Worth a total of almost €1 billion, this commitment covers the supply and installation of around 5200 km of underground cable for voltage levels ranging from 90 kV to 400 kV.
As part of this contract all cables will be produced exclusively in European countries (in France, Portugal, Greece, Belgium, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands), at a cost of €668 m. The contracts also cover cable installation and assembly services, for the balance of around €300 m.
One third of the cables will be produced in France, at the Prysmian plants in Gron (Yonne) and Montereau-Fault-Yonne (Seine-et-Marne) and the Nexans plant in Bourg-en-Bresse (Ain). With this commitment, RTE is reserving almost all of the French production capacity still available until 2028, for the production of more than 1700 km of cable. Securing these strategic supplies is essential, says RTE to if they are to meet future requirements for developing and strengthening the electricity transmission network.
These contracts are said to be concrete evidence of the new industrial strategy and purchasing policy set out by RTE, which will be at the heart of its future strategic network development plan for the next 15 years. This policy is based on anticipating needs, standardising equipment, mass production and extending contract length (from 5 to 8 years). It aims at offering sufficient visibility to suppliers to enable them to develop their production capacities in France and Europe.
Such a strategy is already proving its relevance by allowing Prysmian to invest in a new cable production line in Seine-et-Marne, which will contribute to France’s reindustrialisation and economic development. They also reflect RTE’s determination to join forces effectively with other industrial partners to adapt the French grid to support the country’s transition towards carbon neutrality by 2050.
Xavier Piechaczyk, president of the RTE board, commented: “This new partnership with five major cable makers not only allows us to secure the equipment needed to support the energy transition, but also shows the impact that investing on moving away from fossil energies can have on the French and European manufacturing industry, driving economic growth and employment.”
