RTE has contracted with five suppliers – Prysmian, Nexans, NKT-SolidAl and Hellenic Cables –for the supply and installation of around 5,200 kilometers of underground cables for voltage levels ranging from 90,000 to 400,000 volts.
Nov 5, 2024
RTE has contracted with five suppliers – Prysmian, Nexans, NKT-SolidAl and Hellenic Cables – to secure underground power cable supplies for its projects until 2028. Worth a total of almost EUR 1 billion, this commitment covers the supply and installation of around 5,200 kilometers of underground cables for voltage levels ranging from 90,000 to 400,000 volts.
As part of this contract, all cables will be produced exclusively in Europe at a cost of EUR 668 million. These contracts also cover cable installation and assembly services for around EUR 300 million.
One third of the cables will be produced in France, at both 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 1,700 km.
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Xavier Piechaczyk, President of the Board at RTE said, “The electrification, decarbonisation and reindustrialisation of France are synonymous with major investments in the electricity transmission network over the coming years. 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.”
Massimo Battaini, CEO at Prysmian, said, “The European electrical landscape is undergoing profound changes, and grids are becoming the backbone of the energy transition. This contract confirms Prysmian’s role as a trusted partner, with an attentive focus on the speed, quality and reliability that is needed to develop more efficient and greener power grids. This also represents an exceptional opportunity for Prysmian to actively contribute to the local economic and social development of our sites in France with continued investments aimed at leveraging know-how and technologies available on the territory and creating new jobs.”
Christopher Guérin, CEO at Nexans: “This partnership with RTE marks a strategic step towards the energy transition in France and Europe. By ensuring local and sustainable production of underground power cables, we strengthen the electricity network’s resilience but also contribute to the economic development of the territories. Nexans is proud to put its expertise at the service of this common ambition for a more reliable electricity grid and a stronger industry.”
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Claes Westerlind, President and CEO at NKT (including SolidAl): “We are excited to continue the long-term collaboration with RTE as they modernize and strengthen France’s power grid and support the transition to renewable energy. With the acquisition of SolidAl, we improved our geographic reach in new and existing markets. We look forward to building upon this success by supporting RTE and France’s grid upgrades in the coming years.”
Alexis Alexiou, CEO of Cenergy Holdings (Hellenic Cables): “We are honoured to be part of RTE’s ambitious initiative, which not only strengthens France’s energy infrastructure but also emphasizes sustainable, European-made solutions for the regional electricity transmission network. Hellenic Cables has been continuously expanding its production output, aiming to align with France’s energy transition goals and RTE’s strategic vision.”
