Nexans installs 264 km of high voltage overhead lines in record time to reinforce vital power link in West Africa
The INEO-Nexans consortium has installed AERO-Z® high voltage overhead conductors in just 29 days to upgrade a vital power link between Nigeria and Niger, as part of a 7 million euros contract awarded by Société Nigérienne d’Electricité (NIGELEC)

Paris, France – Nexans, the worldwide leader in the cable industry, and INEO Energie Export (part of Suez Group), a leader in power grid interconnection projects in West African countries, have just completed a major project to install Nexans AERO-Z® high voltage overhead conductors in record time. This project is part of a contract to upgrade the capacity of the 264 km power line between Birnin-Kebbi (Nigeria) and Niamey (Niger). The 7 million euros worth contract was awarded by Société Nigérienne d’Electricité (NIGELEC). AeroZ Niger 1.

At NIGELEC’s request, the INEO-Nexans consortium completed the project in just 29 days. “The deadline imposed by NIGELEC was a real challenge for Nexans because the cable had to be installed in winter—a low demand period—so as to minimize service interruptions. The experience and flexibility of all INEO installation staff allowed us to meet this challenge”, said Thierry Capelle, Nexans Overhead Lines business group Managing Director.

A 75 percent increase in power transmission capacity between Nigeria and Niger

Installing the AERO-Z® cable on the power link between Birnin-Kebbi in Nigeria and Niamey, the capital of Niger, has two important benefits. It will increase the power transmission capacity by at least 75 per cent – to 70 MW in the worst summertime conditions and up to 80 MW in winter, it will also reduce the need for costly local generation alternatives such as gas, diesel or kerosene powered generators. The new higher performance high voltage link, that significantly reduces energy losses, will enable NIGELEC to import more power from Nigeria, its main supplier, and thus benefit from a dramatic decrease in cogeneration costs.

The contract awarded by NIGELEC involved a total length of 820 km of AERO-Z® conductors. The Nexans Dour plant in Belgium manufactured most of the cable (740 km). The Nexans plants in Bourg-en-Bresse (France) and Mohammedia (Morocco) also each produced 40 km of cables. Nexans sales team in charge of Africa coordinated the whole project.

Technical information

Securing the power supply for Niger is essential to the country’s development

Thanks to an investment loan of 4 billion francs CFA (6 million euros), NIGELEC aims at better securing the power supply for Niger, especially in the Niger river area and the capital Niamey, which is essential to the country’s development as vital facilities such as water pumps, health centers and public lighting need to be continuously supplied with power.

In addition to savings generated by renovating the Birnin-Kebbi-Niamey line, installing Nexans’ AERO-Z® conductor also has a significant social and environmental impact because it reduces the use of fossil fuels in auxiliary generators and contributes to improve local development in Niger. Nexans AERO-Z®. is therefore contributing to the country’s sustainable development.

AERO-Z®: a reference for overhead power lines

Nexans is increasingly involved in producing high-end overhead conductors for infrastructure, such as AERO-Z â. AERO-Z® is one of the world’s most advanced conductors for high-voltage overhead lines. AERO-Z® conductors are fully locked, integrating one or more concentric layers of profiled wires in the form of a “Z”. The “Z” profile wires making up the outer belt fit firmly into each other, forming a hermetic casing, preventing internal corrosion. Moreover, dust and dirt are more easily eliminated, reducing line losses. This makes AERO-Z® of particular interest to all power producers and utilities planning to install lines in areas subject to extreme weather conditions.