Powering Timor-Leste Manatuto (Laclo) Marble Exploration Project

In February 2020, the National Petroleum and Minerals Authority (ANPM) of Timor-Leste signed a marble exploration agreement with a Chinese mineral exploration company, launching an 18-month marble exploration project in the Ili Manu region of Lac Lo Administrative Post, Manatuto Municipality. As a professional electrical cable exporter, Dongguan GERITEL Electrical Co., Ltd. was honored to provide comprehensive cable solutions for this large-scale marble exploration project, solving the client’s urgent electrical supply challenges and ensuring the smooth progress of the exploration work. This case details how we used our professional strength, certified products and rich project experience to win the client’s trust and create mutual value.

1. Urgent Electrical Needs in a Challenging Exploration Environment

The Manatuto (Lac Lo) marble exploration project is a key mineral resource development project in Timor-Leste, covering a large exploration area with complex terrain—mostly mountainous and rocky areas, with frequent temperature changes and high humidity. The project involves multiple exploration equipment, including drilling rigs, resistivity meters, and ventilation systems, all of which require stable and safe electrical support to ensure continuous operation. Before cooperating with us, the client faced several critical pain points that seriously hindered the project progress.

First, the client struggled to find cable suppliers with SAA certification. As the project had long-term cooperation plans with Australian technical teams, all electrical products needed to meet Australian safety standards to ensure compatibility and compliance. Many suppliers contacted by the client failed to provide valid SAA certification, making their products unable to pass the project’s safety inspection. Second, the harsh exploration environment put high demands on cable quality: the cables needed to resist UV radiation, moisture, and mechanical damage, as they would be laid both outdoors and in narrow underground exploration areas. The ordinary cables the client initially tested were prone to insulation damage and core breakage, leading to frequent power outages. Third, the client required a combination of cables for different scenarios, including medium-voltage power transmission, equipment grounding, and on-site power distribution, but most suppliers could only provide a single type of cable, requiring the client to coordinate with multiple suppliers, which increased procurement costs and delivery risks. Finally, as a project with a tight schedule, the client needed timely delivery and professional on-site guidance, but many international suppliers could not guarantee delivery time or provide effective after-sales support.

After learning about the client’s needs and pain points, our team quickly conducted in-depth communication and on-site demand analysis, customizing a targeted cable solution that covered all aspects of the project’s electrical needs, including the core cables: Medium Voltage Cable, Earthing Cable, and Orange Circular Cable, as well as supportinglow voltage cable for terminal equipment power supply.

2. Matching Cable Types to Exploration Scenarios

Based on the project’s characteristics and the client’s pain points, we tailored a comprehensive cable solution, selecting specific models and specifications for each cable type to ensure they perfectly adapt to the marble exploration environment and meet the project’s operational requirements. The key to our solution lies in matching the right cable to the right scenario, highlighting the advantages of our products over ordinary cables.

For medium-voltage power transmission, we provided Medium Voltage Cable with a voltage rating of 8.7/10kV, which is specifically designed for long-distance, high-power power transmission in harsh industrial environments. The cable uses high-purity electrolytic copper conductors (copper content ≥99.95%) to reduce resistance and energy loss, and XLPE insulation layer with a thickness of 4.8mm to enhance voltage resistance and prevent electric corona aging. We offered two core specifications: 35mm² and 50mm², where the 50mm² cables were used for the main power line from the ground substation to the underground exploration area, and the 35mm² cables were used for power transmission between exploration stations. Compared with ordinary medium-voltage cables on the market, our product adds a double steel tape armor layer, which can withstand radial pressure of more than 5000N, effectively preventing damage caused by rock collisions and heavy construction machinery during laying. This solved the client’s problem of frequent cable damage due to harsh on-site conditions.

For equipment grounding and safety protection, we supplied Earthing Cable that meets AS/NZS standards, with a core specification of 25mm² (yellow-green double color, in line with international grounding standards) and 16mm² for auxiliary grounding. The cable uses tinned copper conductors, which have better corrosion resistance than ordinary bare copper conductors, adapting to the high-humidity environment of the exploration area. The insulation layer is made of weather-resistant PE material, which can resist moisture and UV radiation, ensuring stable grounding performance for a long time. Unlike ordinary earthing cables that are prone to rust and breakage, our earthing cable has a service life of more than 15 years, reducing the client’s maintenance costs and safety risks. The stable grounding system also effectively prevents electric shock accidents caused by equipment leakage, protecting the safety of on-site construction personnel.

For on-site power distribution, we provided Orange Circular Cable that meets AS/NZS 5000.1 standard, with a voltage rating of 450/750V and 600/1000V to adapt to different power distribution scenarios. The cable features a distinctive orange outer sheath with strong UV resistance, making it suitable for outdoor laying in the Manatuto region. We offered three core configurations: 2 core + earth (1.5mm²) for lighting circuits, 3 core + earth (4mm²) for single-phase equipment, and 4 core + earth (10mm²) for three-phase exploration equipment such as drilling rigs. Compared with flat TPS cables, the round structure of our Orange Circular Cable has better durability and flexibility, making it easy to lay in narrow underground exploration tunnels and resistant to mechanical wear during installation and use. This solved the client’s problem of difficult cable laying and easy wear in complex terrain.

as nzs 5000 cable

In addition, we provided low voltage cable (0.6/1kV) with specifications ranging from 1.5mm² to 25mm² for the power supply of terminal equipment such as resistivity meters and portable lighting. This low voltage cable uses multi-strand fine copper wire stranding, which has better flexibility than ordinary low-voltage cables, making it suitable for mobile equipment that needs to be moved frequently during exploration. The insulation layer is made of flame-retardant PVC material, which meets the fire safety requirements of the exploration site, further ensuring the safety of the project’s electrical system.

3. SAA Certification and Strict Quality Control

The client’s top priority for this project was safety, which is why our SAA certification became the key factor in winning their trust. SAA certification is a mandatory safety certification for electrical products in Australia and New Zealand, ensuring that products meet strict safety standards in terms of electrical performance, mechanical strength, and flame retardancy. All our cables, including Medium Voltage Cable, Earthing Cable, Orange Circular Cable, and low voltage cable, have obtained valid SAA certification, which not only allowed the products to pass the project’s safety inspection smoothly but also ensured compatibility with the Australian technical team’s equipment.

orange circular cable

In addition to SAA certification, we have rich experience in undertaking similar mineral exploration projects, which further strengthened the client’s confidence in us. Our team has provided cable solutions for multiple marble and mineral exploration projects in Southeast Asia and Africa, mastering the key points of cable selection and laying in harsh environments. Before delivery, all cables undergo strict quality inspection, including insulation resistance test, voltage withstand test, and mechanical performance test, ensuring that each batch of products meets the project’s requirements. For example, our Medium Voltage Cable passed the 10kV arc withstand test for 1 minute without breakdown, and the Earthing Cable’s insulation resistance reached more than 100MΩ·km, far exceeding the industry standard. This strict quality control system eliminated the client’s concerns about cable safety and reliability.

4. Efficient Cooperation to Ensure Project Progress

After the cables arrived, our professional technical team was sent to the site to provide guidance on cable laying and installation. The team combined the terrain characteristics of the exploration area and the project’s requirements, formulated a scientific laying plan, and instructed the client’s construction personnel on the key points of laying, such as avoiding direct contact between cables and sharp rocks, and ensuring the tightness of cable joints. For the underground exploration area, our team provided special guidance on waterproof and moisture-proof treatment of cable joints, preventing insulation damage caused by moisture. During the installation process, we also conducted on-site testing of the cables, ensuring that the electrical performance of each cable met the project’s requirements. This professional on-site support solved the client’s problem of lack of professional cable installation experience, ensuring that the electrical system was put into use smoothly within 3 days after the cables arrived.

5. Stable Operation and Mutual Value Creation

Since the cables were put into use, the electrical system of the Manatuto (Lac Lo) marble exploration project has been operating stably, with no power outages or safety accidents caused by cable problems. The Medium Voltage Cable has maintained stable power transmission, ensuring the continuous operation of drilling rigs and other large-scale equipment; the Earthing Cable has provided reliable grounding protection, effectively preventing electric shock accidents; the Orange Circular Cable has adapted well to the complex on-site environment, with no wear or insulation damage; and the low voltage cable has ensured the stable power supply of terminal equipment, improving the efficiency of exploration work.

The client’s project was completed on schedule within 18 months, successfully completing the marble resource evaluation in the Ili Manu region, laying a solid foundation for subsequent commercial development. Our cables not only solved the client’s urgent electrical needs but also helped them reduce procurement and maintenance costs. Compared with cooperating with multiple suppliers, our one-stop cable solution reduced the client’s procurement costs by 15%, and the high-quality cables reduced maintenance costs by 20% during the project period. In addition, our timely delivery and professional after-sales support ensured that the project was not delayed due to electrical problems, which was highly recognized by the client.

6. Cooperation Value and Client Feedback

This cooperation is not just a simple cable supply, but a win-win cooperation based on mutual trust and professional strength. We provided the client with not only high-quality, certified cables but also a full set of solutions including demand analysis, product customization, delivery, and on-site support, helping the client solve practical problems and ensure project progress. The client recognized our professional capabilities, especially our SAA-certified products, rich project experience, and efficient service.

The client highly evaluated our cooperation, emphasizing that our cables have excellent performance and strong adaptability to harsh environments, and our professional team provided timely and effective support throughout the project. The client also stated that they will take us as their preferred cable supplier for future mineral exploration projects in Timor-Leste and recommend us to other related enterprises in the industry. This feedback fully confirms our strength in cable export and project service, and also lays a solid foundation for our long-term development in the Timor-Leste market.

7. Choose Us for Your Next Project: Professional Cable Solutions You Can Trust

The success of the Timor-Leste Manatuto (Lac Lo) marble exploration project fully demonstrates our strength in cable export: we have SAA certification and other international certifications, rich experience in undertaking similar engineering projects, high-quality and cost-effective products, and efficient one-stop service. Whether you are engaged in mineral exploration, construction, or other industrial fields, whether you need Medium Voltage Cable, Earthing Cable, Orange Circular Cable, low voltage cable, or other types of cables, we can provide you with customized solutions that meet your needs.

We are committed to providing each client with high-quality products and professional services, helping you solve electrical challenges and create more value. If you have any cable needs for your project, please feel free to contact us. Our team will reply to you within 24 hours and provide you with a detailed solution and quotation.