Balfour Beatty has secured two contracts worth £43.5 million to deliver overhead line and cabling works for Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission, part of Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN).

The works are being carried out for the Beauly to Keith 132kV modernisation programme and construction is due to begin this Spring.

The first contract, worth around £36m, will involve the design, supply, installation construction and commissioning of the overhead line works across a 103km route running between Beauly, Nairn, Elgin and Keith.

The second deal, worth around £7.5m, will include the design, engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of underground cabling sections of the route.

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At its peak, the project will employ a workforce of around 110 people including a number of graduates, trainees and local contractors. Completion is scheduled for early 2021.

Andy Smith, Operations Director for Balfour Beatty’s Power Transmission and Distribution business in Scotland, said: "These two contracts are testament to Balfour Beatty’s ability to support our clients through the development stages of projects, identifying design solutions and value engineering opportunities. This project shows our ability to bring together both overhead line and cabling capability under a single programme of works, reducing the risk to our client of managing design and operational interfaces as the project progresses."

SSEN Lead Project Manager, Ian Clark, added: "The Beauly to Keith reconductoring project will increase the 132kV electricity network capacity whilst replacing assets which are nearing the end of their working life, further securing the supply of electricity in the north of Scotland.

"Balfour Beatty have been integral to the development of the project and their significant experience in delivering similar projects will be invaluable over the next three years."

(LM)