Repair crews have completed the second of three jointing works as the effort to repair the faulty Basslink cable nears completion.
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The company is still providing a return to service date of late June, but chief executive Malcolm Eccles said he was hopeful of an earlier return.
A late June return would mean the cable had been out of action for seven months.
“Given the positive weather outlook, we have today commenced what will be the final joint in the cable, which will give us a single, continuous cable spanning Bass Strait,” Mr Eccles said.
“Barring poor weather or unforeseen issues, we hope to complete the joint itself by early next week and lay the cable bight in the few days that follow.
“Once this has been done, the next step is to re-bury the cable and conduct a range of tests ahead of its return to service.”
Mr Eccles said crew members had “worked tirelessly in difficult conditions” during the repair effort, which commenced in late January.