Horizon Power 132kV Transmission Line

Overview

The future energy needs of the Pilbara are being met with the Western Australian State Government investing more than $23 million through Horizon Power to upgrade the 132kV Transmission Line between Karratha and Dampier. The Transmission Line is a critical piece of electrical infrastructure in the Pilbara which connects the Karratha terminal substation to the Dampier substation.

Disciplines Employed

• Design
• Construction
• Testing & Commissioning

Scope of Works

• Two hundred old wooden poles were removed and replaced with steel poles in a new configuration which means the number of poles will be reduced by 65%, improving town aesthetics with the removal of more than 200 poles.
• The work consisted of replacing approximately 15 kilometres of aged equipment on the existing 19km Transmission Line.
• A section of the line near the Karratha Airport Terminal was undergrounded.

The phases of the works were as follows:

• Design and Procurement Stage
• Dismantling Old Line
• Clearing, Surveying and Setting-Out Stage
• Bulk Earthworks Pad Construction
• Foundation Construction Stage
• Pole Erection Stage
• Transmission Underground Cable Installation
• Stringing and Cut-In Stage
• Commissioning and Handover Stage

Outcome

Commissioning on the 132kV Transmission Line took place in November 2020 bringing a successful end to the project.

The upgrade will reinforce the ageing infrastructure and ensure the security of supplies on the North West Interconnected System (NWIS) well into the future.