Mikhail Shevaldin, First Deputy Director General and Chief Engineer of the Belenergo state production association, explained in BelTA’s The Nation Speaks project what power engineers are doing to protect power lines from winter weather.
Nature presents new challenges every year. If in summer these are squally winds capable of felling dozens of trees onto a single power line, then in winter the main risk factors are ice and snow loads. The first deputy director general recalled Xavier snow storm, whose name has become a byword: at that time, power engineers not only ensured uninterrupted electricity supply but also cleared access roads to damaged facilities with their own hands.
“Both operational and technical solutions are used to counter the elements. In particular, we provide backup (dual) supply to key energy facilities. However, the main emphasis is on large-scale modernization of the grids,” Mikhail Shevaldin said.
The main line of work is replacing bare wires with modern insulated ones. “To date, more than 10,000 km of 6-10 kV overhead power lines running through forests have already been built in insulated design. That is more than 87% of the total length of such lines in the country,” the Belenergo representative said, citing figures.
Active work is also underway to convert 6-10 kV lines to cable design (underground laying). This guarantees that if a tree falls, the wire will not break or short-circuit, and consumers will continue to receive electricity without interruption.
