Pulling of Mercator-Bruegel conductors well under way

The Mercator-Bruegel high-voltage line is currently being fitted with HTLS conductors as part of our grid backbone upgrade. These conductors, which can carry more electricity, are now being installed in the municipality of Buggenhout. Once this process is complete, work will continue in the direction of the Mercator high-voltage substation in Kruibeke via Bornem. These works are completely on track.

HTLS work in Buggenhout

The upgrading of the line is now almost finalised between Buggenhout and the Bruegel high-voltage substation in Dilbeek. Elia has been working on the line between the Mercator high-voltage substation in Kruibeke and Buggenhout since mid-March, replacing conventional AMS conductors with high-performance HTLS conductors capable of transmitting more electricity. After Buggenhout, work will continue towards Kruibeke via Bornem. From June onwards, preparations will also begin on replacing the towers on both sides of the E40 in the municipality of Dilbeek and on the railway near Malderen station. 

Vital upgrade

Since April 2022, in connection with the upgrade of the backbone of our grid, Elia has been working on the high-voltage (380 kV) line between the Mercator high-voltage substation in Kruibeke and the Bruegel high-voltage substation in Dilbeek. Following this upgrade, the line, which runs through the municipalities of Kruibeke, Temse, Bornem, Puurs-Sint-Amands, Buggenhout, Londerzeel, Merchtem, Asse and Dilbeek, will be able to carry 6 GW of power. The project is vital to securing our electricity supply. In addition to the integration of offshore energy and the need to establish interconnections, we are also seeing the increasing use of heat pumps, solar panels, electric cars and ever-growing demand for electricity from our companies. 

Read more on our website. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us at omwonenden@elia.be or on our free hotline 0800 11 089.