OMSI appointed to lead submarine cable installations in the Caribbean

The project will connect islands of San Pedro and Caye Caulker with the Belizean mainland via a 34.5kV submarine cable.

San Pedro and Cay Caulker lie 11 km from the mainland, with isolated local power grids. The installation will traverse part of the Caribbean Sea and once complete, will significantly improve the islands’ power reliability and efficiency to meet increasing electricity demands from local consumption and tourism. The connection will additionally deliver cleaner power supplies from the Belizean mainland – which derives nearly 50% of its power from hydroelectric sources.

Additionally, with the Caribbean being the centre of storms and major hurricanes, along with increasingly volatile weather patterns attributed to climactic change, the new cable infrastructure will enable more reliable power supplies and provide consistent grid power from the mainland.

Planning for the project commenced in early 2024, with the Marine Route Survey completed in August 2024. OMSI is overseeing all project phases – from engineering through to procurement and installation – with completion estimated by Spring 2025.

Rob Grimmond, Managing Director of OMSI, commented: “The Caribbean faces a number of energy challenges including meeting rising energy demand and a need to shift from the increase of fossil fuel imports and improve the resilience of power infrastructure. The impacts of projects like this is not just an infrastructure upgrade, but also a critical lifeline for regional resilience, both in terms of energy and economic prosperity. By connecting islands to a cleaner and more reliable grid, we’re addressing energy security concerns and laying a foundation for growth and climate adaptation.”

Grimmond continued: “OMSI provides end-to-end offshore solutions, from surveys and subsea cable installation to final commissioning, ensuring reliable delivery for critical projects. Our experience in subsea engineering positions us to address infrastructure gaps in regions such as the Caribbean, supporting new power reliability and long term economic growth and development.”

 

 

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Read the article online at: https://www.energyglobal.com/other-renewables/03022025/omsi-appointed-to-lead-submarine-cable-installations-in-the-caribbean/