Faulty Papa Stour power cable to be replaced
THE SUBSEA electricity cable to Papa Stour will be replaced after it developed a fault earlier this year.
The hope from SSEN is to carry out the work by the end of September.
Generators have been brought to the island to ensure stable supply for 20 customers following a fault on the cable at the end of January.
The cable links Papa Stour to the Shetland mainland. The island is located not too far from Melby on Shetland’s Westside.
A spokesperson from SSEN Distribution said: “Following detailed analysis of the fault – analysis which included a site visit earlier this week by members of our subsea team – we have made the decision to replace the cable.
“This decision has been arrived at following consideration of the potential risks of further damage to the existing cable during any repair works.
“Our plans to replace the cable will be progressed as soon as practically possible, subject to licensing, consents, contractor and vessel availability – and we are working hard to secure a specialist vessel to carry out the works by the end of September, with the actual installation process taking approximately one week.
“In the meantime, all properties on Papa Stour continue to be supplied via back up generation and this process is working well, with members of our team in Lerwick carrying out regular inspections and refuelling of the temporary equipment on the island.”
Not all of Shetland’s outlying inhabited islands are linked to the local grid through subsea cable, with Fair Isle and Foula having their own self-contained networks which include wind power.
Papa Stour can be accessed by a 40-minute ferry which runs to West Burrafirth.
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