The completed submarine power cable will ensure an enhanced security of supply for Saaremaa and Hiiumaa

Elering has completed the Muhu-Orissaare submarine cable in the Väike Väin Strait, which improves the security of supply of electricity for Saaremaa and Hiiumaa.

“Thus far, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa were completely dependent on the overhead transmission lines on the Väinatamm Causeway. In case of any failures, the islands would have suffered a power cut. Now, the supply of electricity for consumers on Saaremaa and Hiiumaa has been duplicated with the Väike Väin Strait submarine cable, meaning that the security of supply of the islands is based on two separate connections,” said Taavi Veskimägi, Chairman of the Management Board of Elering.

Elering entered into a contract for building the cable with the companies Merko Infra and Connecto a year ago. Installation work of the submarine cable was performed this August, and the cable was energised this week. The cable was built in the Prysmian plant in Finland especially for this project. Completing the first submarine cable in the Väike Väin Strait cost more than five million euros for Elering.

Next summer, the same contractors will install a similar new submarine cable in the Suur Väin Strait, where the first modern electrical cable already began operating four years ago. The new cables in the Väinameri Sea have sufficient capacity in order to cope with a significant increase in consumption.