Repsol: We will invest over €35 M to build an XLPE plant to manufacture HV and EHV cables in Tarragona, Spain

We will build a new plant in Tarragona, with an investment of over €35 M to manufacture Cross-linkable Polyethylene (XLPE), a polymer used in cable insulation, located between the conductor and the outer protective layers.

The plant will have an annual capacity of 27 kt and is scheduled to start in mid-2024. The LSHC™ (Linear Short Hyperclean) new technology selected for the plant, from Buss AG, will provide a product with very competitive properties, enabling us to complete our product range for cables by incorporating materials for HV (high voltage) and EHV (extra-high voltage) cables. HV and EHV are the most differentiated segments in cable insulation and would place Repsol among the leading producers of polyethylene for cables.

The new range will be made up of seven grades, based on a base polymer that we already produce – low density polyethylene (LDPE) or EBA copolymers – will target the Water-Tree-Retardant (WTR), HV, EVH and direct current (DC) segments.

Considered a highly specialized material, after startup in June 2024, our XLPE will be shipped to state-of-the-art cable manufacturing facilities in different parts of the world to ensure the highest international standards in the HV and EHV cables produced.

We reaffirm with this new investment our longstanding commitment to the wire & cable segment and to our cable manufacturing clients.