Vanuatu Sarakata Hydropower Expansion Project Cable Solution

In the azure waters of the South Pacific, the Republic of Vanuatu is steadily advancing toward energy independence. The Sarakata Hydropower Expansion Project on Espiritu Santo Island stands as a cornerstone of this island nation's clean energy strategy. Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the project will increase the power station's installed capacity from 1.2 megawatts to 2.2 megawatts. Upon full commissioning in 2027, Espiritu Santo Island is expected to achieve nearly 100% renewable electricity supply.
Dongguan GERITEL Electrical Co., Ltd. entered the cable supply bidding process for this project in late 2023. The client required a complete cable solution covering medium voltage distribution, equipment connection, signal transmission, and multiple other application scenarios. Following several rounds of technical evaluation and sample testing, we secured our position as the primary cable supplier for this project through our SAA certification qualifications, Pacific region project experience, and reliable delivery capabilities.
Real Challenges Facing the Client
The project procurement team articulated clear concerns during our initial engagement. First came environmental adaptability issues. Espiritu Santo Island features a tropical maritime climate with annual average humidity exceeding 80%, high salt spray content in the air, intense ultraviolet radiation, and annual tropical cyclone exposure. Ordinary cables in such environments tend to suffer sheath aging and insulation performance degradation.
Second was certification compliance requirements. As a Commonwealth member state, Vanuatu's power infrastructure has long operated under Australian and New Zealand technical influences. The grid company explicitly mandated that grid-connected equipment must comply with the AS/NZS standards system. Cable products without SAA certification, even if technically adequate, could not pass acceptance inspection or obtain insurance coverage.
Third was schedule pressure. Civil works were already scheduled to commence in early 2024, and cable delivery timing directly impacted subsequent equipment installation and commissioning progress. Any delays could escalate project costs and even threaten the 2027 commissioning target.
Fourth was technical complexity. The power station interior needed to simultaneously handle power distribution, equipment control, signal monitoring, and various other electrical requirements, involving medium voltage cables, armored cables, instrumentation cables, flexible cables, and multiple other categories. The client preferred a single supplier capable of delivering a coordinated solution, reducing coordination costs and interface risks.
Our Technical Solution: Addressing Every Application Need
We designed a layered, progressive cable configuration scheme targeting the client's specific application scenarios.
Medium Voltage Distribution System: The Foundation of Stable Transmission
From the hydro turbine generators to the 11-kilovolt switchyard, and onward to the island's secondary distribution network, we selected copper-conductor XLPE insulated medium voltage cables. The cross-linked polyethylene insulation layer of these cables achieves a heat resistance rating of 90 degrees Celsius, maintaining stable electrical performance under continuous high-load operation—particularly suitable for tropical regions.
For distribution branch circuits, we extensively employed the 3 × 25 mm² + E 0.6/1 kV Elastomer Cable specification. This cable not only meets the insulation requirements for 0.6/1 kilovolt voltage ratings, but its elastomer sheath also provides superior flexibility and weather resistance compared to ordinary PVC. The three-core 25 square millimeter conductor design with independent earthing wire perfectly matches TN-S earthing system specifications, achieving voltage drop control within acceptable limits across the 2.5-kilometer distribution network.

Mechanical Protection Scenarios: SWA Cable's Armored Guard
External station lines needed to traverse roads, rocky terrain, and potential construction zones. We configured steel wire armored cables as the solution. Our comprehensive range from 4 square millimeters to 95 square millimeters covered all requirements, with galvanized steel wire braid directly bearing external mechanical stress while the inner sheath maintained insulation integrity. This structure permitted direct burial without additional conduit protection, significantly reducing civil construction complexity and material costs.
Precision Control Circuits: Instrumentation Cable's Signal Fidelity
The automation requirements of modern hydropower stations demand accurate transmission of sensor signals and control commands in strong electromagnetic environments. Our instrumentation cables employ multi-pair twisted structures with individual aluminum foil shielding for each pair, plus overall braided shielding. The 1-pair 1.5 square millimeter and 2-pair 1.0 square millimeter specifications served analog input and digital communication circuits respectively, effectively suppressing electromagnetic interference from variable frequency drives, high-power motors, and other equipment.
Mobile Equipment Connections: Elastomer Cable's Dynamic Adaptation
Hydro turbine generators, transformer on-load tap changers, motorized valves, and other equipment generate continuous vibration during operation, requiring cables with outstanding bending resistance and fatigue performance. We selected ethylene propylene rubber insulated cables including the 3 × 25 mm² + E 0.6/1 kV Elastomer Cable specification, with polychloroprene or chlorosulfonated polyethylene sheaths demonstrating excellent oil resistance, ozone resistance, and weathering aging resistance. The 16 to 50 square millimeter specification range satisfied various power connection needs from control boxes to main equipment.
SAA Certification: The Key to Compliance
Throughout the bidding process, our SAA certification qualifications became the decisive advantage. This certification covers the comprehensive requirements of the AS/NZS 5000 series standards for low and medium voltage cables, as well as specific provisions of AS/NZS 3191 for flexible cords.
The value of SAA certification manifests at three levels. For project owners, it means cable products have undergone rigorous testing by third-party laboratories, with conductor purity, insulation thickness, aging characteristics, and other key indicators fully documented—reducing long-term operational uncertainty. For grid operators, it provides the technical basis for grid connection permits, streamlining the approval process. For insurance companies, it is a necessary condition for underwriting and claims, ensuring risk coverage across the project lifecycle.
Our certification documentation package includes complete type test reports, factory quality control records, and declarations of conformity, all issued in English with technical parameter comparison tables—enabling the client's engineering team to complete technical evaluation rapidly.
Pacific Experience: From Understanding to Delivery
Compared to other bidders, our project portfolio in Pacific Island nations provided unique practical insights. Our participation in grid upgrades in Tarawa Atoll, Kiribati gave us understanding of cable laying characteristics under coral reef geological conditions. Our service to power enhancement projects in Funafuti, Tuvalu familiarized us with the complexities of island logistics and customs clearance requirements. Our communication infrastructure restoration work in Fiji accumulated experience in material selection for salt spray environments.
These project experiences translated into concrete delivery details. We knew cable drums needed enhanced sealing against moisture intrusion during sea freight. We understood the specific format requirements for phytosanitary certificates at Vanuatu customs. We anticipated the local construction crew's familiarity with cable termination techniques and prepared corresponding technical guidance documents accordingly.
Delivery Execution: Promise and Fulfillment
Following contract signing, we launched a dedicated production plan. Completing all cable manufacturing, testing, and shipment within eight weeks presented a significant challenge for an order encompassing multiple categories and specifications.
During production, each manufacturing line executed SAA-certified quality control procedures, from copper rod incoming inspection to finished product high-voltage testing—establishing complete quality traceability records. In logistics, we adopted a multimodal transport solution combining containerized inland transport to Shenzhen Port, sea freight to Port Vila, and onward domestic shipping to Luganville, monitoring cargo status throughout. For documentation, we prepared bilingual technical materials including cable laying guidelines, bending radius requirements, termination process instructions, and other practical content directly serving field construction needs.
By March 2024, all cables arrived at the project site in scheduled batches, seamlessly interfacing with civil construction progress. Feedback from the installation contractor indicated that the flexibility of elastomer cables improved generator termination efficiency, the shielding performance of instrumentation cables eliminated signal interference issues, and the mechanical strength of SWA cables permitted direct burial in rocky sections. These field validations further confirmed the rationality of our technical solution.

Project Value and Long-Term Partnership
The Sarakata Hydropower Expansion Project is currently in peak equipment installation phase, with our cable products progressively becoming the physical carriers of the station's electrical system. Upon commissioning, the project is expected to generate over 15 gigawatt-hours annually, replacing thousands of tons of diesel consumption, and providing clean, stable power supply for residents and the tourism industry on Espiritu Santo Island.
This project's successful execution reinforces our professional positioning in the Pacific Island renewable energy market. We have demonstrated that Chinese cable manufacturers can not only offer cost competitiveness, but also satisfy high-end market demands in technical standards, certification compliance, and project delivery.
Reasons to Choose GERITEL
Certification Authority: The SAA mark is authoritative proof of AS/NZS standards compliance, saving clients the trouble of repeated testing and certification conversion, and accelerating project approval processes.
Regional Expertise: With years of deep engagement in Pacific Island markets, we understand local environmental characteristics, engineering conventions, and business rules—providing project support beyond the products themselves.
Delivery Reliability: Flexible production scheduling and mature international logistics systems ensure on-time delivery even to remote destinations, safeguarding client project schedules.
Begin Your Project Partnership
The Sarakata Hydropower story demonstrates how professional cable solutions underpin critical energy infrastructure construction. Whether your project is located on Pacific islands, in Southeast Asian rainforests, or in Middle Eastern deserts, we can deliver certified, environment-optimized, on-time cable products.
Contact Dongguan GERITEL Electrical Co., Ltd.:
Dongguan GERITEL Electrical Co., Ltd.
Tel/WhatsApp/WeChat: +86 135 1078 4550 / +86 136 6257 9592
Email: manager01@greaterwire.com