Japanese pump technology is being used in the construction of the underground power link between France and Spain, part of the EU's INELFE project. The new line is intended to increase the security of supply in both countries from 2028 and prevent power outages. After a long approval phase, construction work began, which places high demands on dewatering due to the underground and predominantly undersea route. The French tunnelling contractor Bessac is using Tsurumi waste water pumps, which have already proven their worth in comparable projects.
The INELFE project, supported by the grid operators Red Eléctrica, Spain, and RTE, France, is considered an important step for the European energy infrastructure. The 393 km long direct current line with four cable strands connects Cubnezais near Bordeaux with Gatika near Bilbao and runs 300 km as a submarine cable through the Bay of Biscay. The transmission capacity will be doubled to 5,000 MW, which is particularly relevant for Spain, which previously had few grid connections.
Construction through the sea was chosen to minimise the environmental impact, as existing overhead lines are not sufficient. The underground cable sections amount to 80 km on the French side and 13 km on the Spanish side.
Bessac is relying primarily on the KTZ415 model from Tsurumi for dewatering the tunnels. According to the manufacturer, this pump is designed for high loads and can pump up to 1,980 litres per minute. It is said to be characterised by robust materials and easy maintenance, which should increase its reliability on construction sites. Tsurumi is a globally active manufacturer with extensive experience and offers a wide range of pumps, which it claims are available at short notice.
