Project Overview
Client: MATELEC (Main Contractor) / EDL
Location: Baalbeck, Beqaa Valley, Lebanon
Project Type: High Voltage Substation (Transmission)
Voltage Level: 220KV / 66KV
Technology: Air Insulated Switchgear (AIS)
Year of Execution: 2017
Scope: Steel Structure Erection & Electro-Mechanical Installation
Project Description
The Baalbeck Substation is a critical node in Lebanon’s electricity transmission grid, linking the 220KV national backbone to the regional 66KV distribution network. ISPC was selected to execute the electro-mechanical installation works for this Air Insulated Switchgear (AIS) station. The project demanded extreme precision in alignment and clearance distances to ensure the safe and reliable transmission of high-voltage power across the Beqaa region.
Scope of Work
1. Steel Structure Erection:
Gantry Erection: Assembly and erection of massive galvanized steel gantries and towers that support the overhead busbars and incoming transmission lines.
Equipment Supports: Installation of steel support structures for high-voltage equipment, ensuring perfect leveling on civil foundations.
2. High Voltage Equipment Installation:
Switchgear Assembly: Installation of 220KV and 66KV Circuit Breakers (CB), Disconnectors (DS), and Earthing Switches.
Instrument Transformers: Precision mounting of Current Transformers (CT) and Inductive Voltage Transformers (IVT) for metering and protection.
Surge Arresters: Installation of lightning protection devices at line entrances.
3. Busbar & Cabling:
Rigid Busbar Works: Fabrication, welding, and installation of aluminum tube busbars (high-current conductors) ensuring correct phase spacing and expansion joints.
Flexible Connections: Installation of ACSR conductors and high-voltage clamps connecting equipment to the main busbar.
Control Cabling: Pulling and termination of LV control and protection cables between the outdoor yard and the control room.
Key Challenges & Solutions
Challenge: Ensuring precise “Phase-to-Phase” and “Phase-to-Ground” clearances strictly according to IEC standards to prevent electrical arcing (Flashovers), especially in the open-air environment of Baalbeck which is subject to strong winds.
Solution: ISPC utilized advanced surveying stations during the steel erection phase and torque-calibrated tools for all electrical connections to guarantee structural stability and electrical integrity.
Results
The substation was successfully energized and integrated into the grid, significantly improving power stability in the Baalbeck district. The project stands as a reference for ISPC’s capability to deliver complex High Voltage (HV) infrastructure projects safely and compliant with international standards.
