Cadiz.- The Regional Government puts out to tender the maintenance of the transformer stations at the ports of Barbate and Chipiona

The Regional Ministry of Development, Territorial Planning and Housing, through the Public Ports Agency of Andalusia (APPA), has put out to tender the maintenance contract for the transformer substations it owns in the ports of Barbate and Chipiona. This action will fulfill the obligation of the transformer substation owner to carry out periodic inspections by an accredited inspection body (OCA).

Transformer substations, being located in "aggressive" environments due to the marine environment, "the intensity and frequency of use and their age" require periodic maintenance operations to ensure the full functionality of the equipment and avoid "greater expenses" resulting from breakdowns due to "inefficient operation or power outages that can generate economic losses undoubtedly greater than the cost of maintenance," the relevant Ministry stated in a press release.

The maintenance company, which will carry out at least two annual inspections, will work on the transformer stations in the port of Barbate, located next to the fish market, and in the port of Chipiona, located next to the commercial premises of the fishing area.

Thus, they will carry out functional tests, cleanings, checks, lubrications and inspections as required by regulations, with scrupulous adherence to the protocols and technical instructions that affect each constituent element of the transformer center such as civil works, switches, current transformers, voltage transformers, protection relays, power transformers, disconnectors, APR fuses (high breaking power, power cables, grounding installations and fire protection systems).

These reviews will comply with the provisions of Royal Decree 337/2014 of May 9, which approves the Regulation on technical conditions and safety guarantees in high voltage electrical installations and its Complementary Technical Instructions ITC-RAT 01 A 23. The regulations establish that the owners of the transformer centers must have a maintenance contract by a company accredited as a high voltage installation entity.