Walsin Energy Cable System Co (華新能源電纜系統) yesterday broke ground on a new submarine power cable plant in Kaohsiung to help contribute to the localization of Taiwan’s offshore wind industry.
The plant, the first of its kind in Taiwan, is expected to be completed in 2025 and become fully operational in 2027, the company said in a statement.
Walsin Energy Cable is a joint venture between Taiwanese wire and cable maker Walsin Lihwa Corp (華新麗華) and Danish cable giant NKT HV Cables AB.
Photo courtesy of Kaohsiung City Government
The two companies entered into a joint venture agreement in March, with NKT providing technical support to its Taiwanese partner for the construction of the plant.
The plant is in the phase one area of the Kaohsiung Intercontinental Container Terminal, occupying a site of 233,888m2 and a building area of about 59,828m2, Walsin Lihwa said.
It is to produce high-voltage export and inter-array cables mainly for the nation’s offshore wind market, it said.
Yesterday’s groundbreaking ceremony was cohosted by Walsin Lihwa chairman Chiao Yu-lon (焦佑倫) and NKT chief operating officer and deputy CEO Will Hendrikx, with the attendance of several business representatives and government officials including Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor Lo Ta-sheng (羅達生).
“Local production ensures a steady supply of submarine cables, a critical component for the development of offshore wind power generation industry, and of strategic importance to Taiwan’s grid resilience,” Chiao said in the statement.
Chiao said it is a great honor to work with a world-class firm such as NKT and the partnership marks a significant milestone in the development of Walsin Lihwa’s power cable business.
It would accelerate the company’s submarine cable business development going forward, he said.
The company also looks forward to closer cooperation with wind power developers in Taiwan to contribute to the nation’s offshore wind and green energy development goals, he added.
“The project is important to NKT because it allows us to continue playing a vital role in the green energy transition away from our home markets,” Hendrikx said in the statement.
The Danish company values its partnership with Walsin Lihwa and sees a great opportunity to establish a local champion for submarine cable production, he said.
Lo thanked Walsin Lihwa for investing in Kaohsiung, praising the new project for setting a milestone for the localization of Taiwan’s offshore wind power development and paving the way for future cooperation in the international market.
The investment is expected to exceed NT$10 billion (US$309.9 million) and provide more than 250 job opportunities, he said.
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