Taihan Cable wins $90 mil. extra-high-voltage grid contract in Singapore

Taihan Cable & Solution workers install an extra-high-voltage power cable system in Singapore. Courtesy of Taihan Cable & Solution

Taihan Cable & Solution, a leading Korean manufacturer, has secured a 140 billion won ($90 million) contract to deploy an extra-high-voltage power grid system in Singapore, the company said Monday.

The deal with SP PowerAssets Limited, the grid management subsidiary of Singapore’s state-owned utility SP Group, requires Taihan to supply and install both 400-kilovolt and 230-kilovolt oil-filled cable systems. The 400-kilovolt threshold represents the absolute highest voltage used by Singapore’s domestic grid. Because of the extreme technical demands, bidding requirements forced contractors to prove capabilities matching an even higher 500-kilovolt engineering standard.

The award caps a lucrative expansion for the Korean manufacturer, bringing its cumulative contract value in Singapore to approximately 1 trillion won over the past two years. Singapore is currently overhauling its electricity infrastructure to support a massive expansion of artificial intelligence data centers, which consume vast amounts of power, while simultaneously integrating new renewable energy sources into its urban grid.

To win the contract, Taihan relied on its specialized history with oil-filled insulation technology, a complex manufacturing process that utilizes pressurized oil to maintain electrical insulation and prevent catastrophic grid failures. Because these systems carry stringent maintenance protocols, global production remains cornered by only a handful of specialized industrial players.

Taihan executives noted that the company’s previous experience deploying 500-kilovolt systems in the United States served as the critical benchmark for the Singaporean regulators. Looking ahead, the manufacturer plans to leverage its entrenched position in Southeast Asia to target high-margin sectors globally. A company spokesperson stated Monday that Taihan will accelerate its expansion into high-voltage direct current systems and submarine cabling, two segments vital to the world’s rapidly growing offshore wind markets.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.