Restored umbilical cord gives new life to Tassie

With little by way of fanfare, Basslink resumed operation this week after almost 6 months.

Basslink is Tasmania’s proverbial umbilical cord - a 500 megawatt submarine HVDC cable that connects to the mainland  providing both electrical power and data exchange. Along with unusually dry conditions last Spring, Basslink’s failure back in December last year contributed to an unprecedented energy crisis in the Apple Isle.

To help avert the crisis 200 diesel gensets were installed at a cost of around $44 million.  The moth-balled Tamar Valley (gas-fired) Power Station was bought back online, and deals were brokered with large industrials to reduce their energy consumption. Some analysts have estimated the total cost of the crisis at around $400-500 million.

With Basslink’s resumption, the process of repairing the damage begins.

Read the Melbourne Energy Institute newsletter article - “A new normal, as Basslink finally resumes.”