Herbert Smith Freehills Advised Marinus Link On Major Interconnector Cable Deal
Herbert Smith Freehills Advised Marinus Link On Major Interconnector Cable Deal
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has provided Legal Counsel to Marinus Link Pty Ltd (MLPL) regarding its contract with Prysmian, an Italian-owned cable manufacturing company, for a critical 750-megawatt High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) subsea and land cable. This cable is integral to the Marinus Link interconnector project, connecting North West Tasmania and the Latrobe Valley in Victoria.
Toby Anderson, HSF's Managing Partner for Projects, Energy & Infrastructure (PEI), described the deal as a significant milestone for the Marinus Link project. “Signing the cable package, along with the HVDC converter package, is a major milestone for Marinus Link, with supply of the critical core infrastructure for the project now secured. The cable being provided by Prysmian will run undersea across the Bass Strait and underground through Gippsland, connecting to converter stations in Victoria and Tasmania,” Anderson said.
Anderson highlighted the project's importance, noting that ““Marinus Link is a critical, nation-building project for Australia and will support future energy security in the National Energy Market (NEM). It will enable Tasmania to import excess supply of solar and wind produced interstate, while reserving its hydro and storing the extra energy. Clean hydropower can then feed the national grid when it is needed most, acting as a large battery for the nation.”
“It was a pleasure to work alongside the Marinus Link team to support this major milestone.”
This announcement follows Marinus Link's recent agreement with Hitachi Energy for HVDC equipment required for converter stations, also managed by HSF’s PEI team. Construction of the Marinus Link project is slated to commence in 2026.
The interconnector's first phase will have a capacity of 750 megawatts, sufficient to power 750,000 Australian homes. The 345-kilometer cable will include 255 kilometers of undersea cables across the Bass Strait and 90 kilometers of underground cables in Gippsland.
Caroline Wykamp, CEO of MLPL, emphasized the project's critical role in achieving Net Zero goals. “Marinus Link is a cornerstone project of the Australian Government’s Rewiring the Nation Plan and is classified as urgent in the Australian Energy Market Operator’s national energy plan. HSF has played a key role in supporting Marinus Link to achieve this major milestone.”
The HSF team leading this transaction included Partners Toby Anderson, Laurelle Ko, and Joseph Varghese, along with Senior Associates Talia Lake and Michael D’Agostino and Solicitors Jessie Sun and Clare Yu.
HSF is also advising Marinus Link on various aspects of the project, including corporate and regulatory, planning and environmental, employment, and financing matters.
