The Marinus Link has been recognized as the first marine electricity transmission and telecommunications infrastructure permit in Australia with the issuance of its final construction permit. This permit is the last federal approval before the construction of this project begins.
Details of the Marinus Link Project
The Marinus Link, which connects northwest Tasmania to the Latrobe Valley in Victoria, has received the electricity transmission and infrastructure permit under Australia's new marine infrastructure regime. This permit was issued following the approval of the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act last year.
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This permit covers the construction, installation, operation, maintenance, repair, and decommissioning of undersea cables and related fiber optic infrastructure, and is valid until 2090.
Comments from the CEO of MLPL
Stephanie McGregor, CEO of MLPL, stated about this permit: "The transmission infrastructure permit is one of the final permits before construction begins, allowing the transfer of electricity through federal waters and ensuring the protection of the undersea cable route." She also highlighted the importance of this permit as the first infrastructure permit under the Marine Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021, designed to support renewable energy in federal waters.
The Marinus Link includes high-voltage cables and fiber optics that span 255 kilometers in the Bass Strait and 90 kilometers underground in Gippsland. This project will also include a fiber optic terminal station at Sandy Point and converter stations at Haybridge and Hazelwood North.
Preliminary works for this project have started this year, and construction will ramp up in the coming months. MLPL announced the final investment decision (FID) for this project on August 1, 2025, and stated that technology suppliers for cables and converters, Prysmian Powerlink and Hitachi Energy, will be allowed to commence work in September 2025.
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