Taihan Cable & Solution is to invest $360m for the first phase of construction of its new HVDC submarine cable plant in South Korea.
The new Dangjin submarine cable plant 2 (rendering pictured) is expected to break ground within the year, with full-scale operation aimed for 2027.
The investment of approximately USD $360m (497.2bn KRW) has been approved for the first phase of construction.
Taihan said the investment is aimed at expanding the company’s production infrastructure to meet rising global and domestic demand for submarine cables, the growth of the offshore wind power market, and participation in the accelerating West Coast Energy Highway project.
The first phase of the new plant will be a dedicated facility capable of producing 640kV-class HVDC (high-voltage direct current) and 400kV-class HVAC (high-voltage alternating current) submarine cables.
It will feature technologies including a VCV (Vertical Continuous Vulcanisation) system – a core component for manufacturing extra-high-voltage cables.
The first phase of the plant is targeted to begin operation in 2027. A second phase of investment to further expand production capacity will be pursued based on future market conditions.
The site for Taihan submarine cable plant 2 is located in the Godae District of the Asan National Industrial Complex in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, adjacent to the company’s existing submarine plant 1.
The site spans approximately 215,000 square metres – equivalent to about 30 football fields. Once operational, the new plant is expected to deliver production capacity nearly five times greater than that of submarine cable plant 1.
With this expansion, all of Taihan’s domestic production infrastructure – including the cable plant, solution plant, and both submarine cable plants 1 and 2 – will be concentrated in Dangjin.
Vice chairman Song Jong-min said: “By moving forward with the construction of submarine cable plant 2, we are not only responding to the growing demand for HVDC submarine cables, but also positioning ourselves to actively participate in the expanding West Coast Energy Highway project.”
He added: “With our turnkey competitiveness in submarine cables, we aim to lead the global market, strengthen national competitiveness, and contribute to energy security.”
Last week, Taihan completed the installation of export cables for the 364.8MW Yeonggwang Nakwol offshore wind project, using cable-laying vessel Palos.