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EHV (extra-high-voltage) power cables
What it is
Extra-high-voltage power cables, typically 66 kV and above, used for underground and submarine transmission where overhead lines are impractical. They require XLPE insulation, precise extrusion and extensive type testing
Qualification is stringent because a buried cable failure is expensive and slow to repair
Impact on industries
- The premium tier of the cable business, with realisation and margin far above building wire and LT cables
- Urban land constraints and right-of-way difficulty push transmission underground, which is exactly where EHV cable substitutes for overhead line
- Very few qualified domestic manufacturers, so competitive intensity is low relative to the rest of the cable industry
- Capital-intensive with long qualification cycles, and a single failure in service damages credibility across the whole customer base