AFL Spans Great Lengths to Reach Peruvian Power Station

19/02/2013

Swindon, Wiltshire, U.K. and Spartanburg, SC, USA – AFL’s SkyWrap® set a world record for the longest wrap cable span ever installed and documented the process on video. During an installation in Peru on existing power lines for Consorcio Energético de Huancavelica S.A. (Conenhua), a Peruvian power company, two SkyWrap cables were simultaneously wrapped on an unusually long span measuring 2,234 metres tower-to-tower across a deep valley.
 
“The project took place in the valley of Santa Eulalia, approximately 70 kilometres northeast of Lima in the heart of the Andes Mountains,” explains Carlos Galvez, managing director of Conenhua. “Perilous terrain, lack of access roads and the extremely long span lengths along the route made installation conditions very difficult.”
 
AFL's SkyWrap solution is a fibre optic cable that is helically applied on existing ground or phase conductors using specially designed installation equipment. The installation span was close to the town of San Pedro de Casta between two pylons each at 3,350 metres above sea level on opposite sides of a river valley. The longest span was just one of 10 spans over 1,000 metres in length on this project.
 
“The installation team consisted of 12 people with four off-road vehicles—more people than typical for a SkyWrap installation due to the need to transport or hike equipment by hand to many of the pylon locations,” stated Ian Chard, senior project manager at AFL.
 
Galvez added, “The SkyWrap system proved to be the best solution due to the lightweight equipment and efficient installation technique using a remote-controlled device to wrap the cable on the conductor. Due to the hard work and determination of the crew and the quickness of the technique, we installed 30 kilometres in just 20 days.”
 
This span was part of a 30 kilometre fibre optic link connecting the Huanza Hydroelectric Power Plant to the Interconnected National Network. The fibre optic cable was installed on the overhead power network owned and operated by Conenhua for Cia. de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. (NYSE:BVN), one of the major gold and silver producers in Peru. The link will provide a means for control, protection and safe operation of the hydroelectric plant.
 
To view excerpts from the SkyWrap installation project in Peru, visit AFL’s YouTube page. For more information about AFL, its products and services, visit www.AFLglobal.com.
 
About AFL
AFL provides industry-leading products and services to the electric utility, broadband, communications, OEM, enterprise, wireless and transit rail markets as well as the emerging markets of oil and gas, mining, nuclear, avionics, medical, renewable and intelligent grid. The company’s diverse product portfolio includes fibre optic cable, transmission and substation accessories, outside plant equipment, connectors, fusion splicers, test equipment and training. AFL’s service portfolio includes market-leading positions with the foremost communications companies supporting inside plant central office, EF&I, outside plant, enterprise and wireless areas.
 
Founded in 1984, AFL is proud to offer engineering expertise, exceptional products and reliable service that help our customers improve their critical and electrical infrastructure. AFL has operations in the U.S., Mexico, Europe, Asia and the South Pacific. The company is headquartered in Spartanburg, SC, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fujikura Ltd. of Japan. For more information, visit www.AFLglobal.com.
 
About Conenhua
Conenhua is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Buenaventura that provides electrical transmission and generation services. Conenhua obtained a concession for power transmission in the Huancavelica area in 1983, and subsequently obtained concessions in the Cajamarca and Arequipa regions.Conenhua's transmission infrastructure enables us to purchase electricity from various power generating companies and transmit it to certain of our mining units and affiliates, including Uchucchacua, Orcopampa, Poracota, Shila-Paula, Antapite, Yanacocha, La Zanja and Coimolache, as well as to other mining companies and municipalities in the area. For additional information on Conenhua, visit www.aep-peru.org/portal/empresas/conenhua.
 
About Cia. de Minas BUENAVENTURA
Buenaventura is Peru's largest publicly-traded precious metals company and a major holder of mining rights in Peru. The company is engaged in the mining, processing, development and exploration of gold, silver and other metals via wholly-owned mines, as well as through its participation in joint exploration projects. For additional information, visit www.buenaventura.com.
 
Contacts
Joanne Lawrence
Public Relations EMEA
AFL
(44) 1793 647200
Joanne.Lawrence@AFLglobal.com 
 
Corie Culp
Public Relations Manager
AFL
1 (864) 433 5409
Corie.Culp@AFLglobal.com