New project to have major impact on electricity distribution and availability |30 September 2017

A new 33KV underground transmission line project from Roche Caiman to south Mahé will impact significantly on electricity availability and distribution in the country as it will serve three major purposes: a robust electricity transmission and distribution network in the south of Mahé; enhance the reliability and quality of electrical supply and help in the provision of electrical energy to all sectors of the economy.

The chief executive of the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) Philip Morin said this yesterday during the signing for the engineering procurement and construction contract for the project which took place at the Electricity House.

The contract was signed by Mr Morin representing PUC and Shaun Maree, project manager of CONGO in the presence of officials from both PUC and CONCO.

CONCO was incorporated in 1986 as a subsidiary of the publicly listed entity Consolidated Infrastructure Group. It specialises in the creation of high voltage turnkey solutions to various sectors including utilities, gridco’s, mining, petroleum oil & gas and heavy industry.

Its services encompasses the design, procurement, construction, commissioning and project management of high-voltage implementation centering on substations, overhead power lines, protection and automation systems, and renewable energy projects.

With more than 26 years of experience, CONCO has completed over 900 projects and has a strong presence on the African continent.

The estimated project duration is around 18 months and is expected to be completed by mid-2019. It will be done in two phases with the first phase entailing excavation works and laying of two circuits of 33KV cables from Roche Caiman to Anse Boileau via Montagne Posée. It is being undertaken by PUC and is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2017.

CONCO will undertake phase two which involves installation of 33KV cables from Turtle Bay to Anse Boileau via the south coast with new 33KV substations at the following locations: Turtle Bay, Anse Royale, Quatre Bornes, Baie Lazare, Port Launay including the demolition of the existing Anse Boileau substation and construction of a new substation in the same location. It also includes the implementation of a SCADA system which will allow PUC to remotely monitor and control specific features of the electricity network.

“The whole project has taken us a long time to prepare, in fact it has been 15 or so years in the making. Signing this document today represents a significant milestone in the progress of this project. We hope Consolidated Power will provide us with solid type of performance, effectiveness in the laying of the 33KV transmission system in erecting the substation and the digging for power installation all the way down to south Mahé,” said Mr Morin after the signing.

As to the benefits such a project will bring, Mr Morin said it will guarantee 50 megawatt electricity in south Mahé, satisfy new demand and better service and reduction in electricity interruption. Another important aspect is that it will provide more penetration for renewable energy.

On behalf of CONCO, Mr Maree expressed his thanks to PUC, the Seychelles government and also the investors for the opportunity to do this important project in Seychelles.

“We are committed to giving you a good project, high quality within the time allotted for our company,” he said.

CONCO has more than a 1000 employees represented in more than 100 different offices.

The project is being co-financed by Saudi Fund, BADEA and the government of Seychelles and PUC at a cost of US $31.5 million.