The first section in the world's longest high-voltage underwater electricity cable, Australia's Basslink interconnector, has been laid off Victoria's east coast. Despite poor weather the first 98km of the 290km cable, which will connect Tasmanian power supplies to Victoria, was completed off Ninety Mile beach in Victoria's eastern Gippsland region in mid-July. The modern cabling vessel Giulio Verne was used to lay the section and is now trenching it in the ocean bed using a high pressure water system. Laying of the second section is expected to begin in December, with a further third section completing the link.
Work is on schedule, with the cable set to come ashore near George Town in northern Tasmania in mid-2005.
Land works are also progressing well on both sides of the Bass Strait, 26 of the 30 towers for the overhead line in Tasmania have been erected, and work has started on the overhead tower foundations in Gippsland. UK-based National Grid Transco won the tender to build Basslink in February 2000 after it was revealed that all mainland states could face power shortages during summer peak demand periods in 2005-6. The Basslink project – worth almost A$800 million ($56m) – will allow Tasmania to export hydro power and give Victoria and South Australia greater electricity security in summer.
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