Samsung C&T and Australian partner DT Infrastructure have secured a key contract for the multi-billion Bass Strait Marinus Link cable project.
The joint venture, trading as TasVic Greenlink, beat several competitors to win the “balance of works” contract covering converter stations in Tasmania and Victoria plus 90 kilometres of underground cables across Gippsland.
The selection follows months of negotiations and marks the final major contract award for the project, which aims to link Tasmania’s hydroelectric power with mainland Australia’s grid by 2030.
Marinus Link chief executive Stephanie McGregor said the Korean engineering giant’s track record on large infrastructure projects was decisive.
She said final contract terms are still being negotiated.
“The successful tenderer will need strong local business capability to deliver on this massive construction campaign and we’ve set targets to incentivise this,” McGregor said.
“TasVic Greenlink is keen to engage with potential subcontractors and suppliers during this next stage of the tender and into construction.”
She said the project has generated significant interest among local suppliers, with nearly 600 people attending industry briefings across Tasmania and Victoria in February.
Construction on the interconnecter will not begin until 2026 at the earliest.
Stage one is scheduled for completion by 2030.
The 1500-megawatt link promises to unlock Tasmania’s renewable energy potential while providing backup power to Victoria during peak demand periods.
The interconnector would supply power equivalent to 1.5 million homes while boosting telecommunications capacity between Tasmania and mainland Australia.
