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Chinese manufacturer joins list of investors in the Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project

Ningbo Orient Wires & Cables Co., Ltd. (Orient Cable NBO) has become part of the Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project, an ambitious renewable energy initiative that will send wind and solar energy generated in Morocco to the U.K.

Per multiple news reports, Orient Cable NBO invested approximately £5 million on January 22. It joins existing investors in the project: Abu Dhabi Power Corporation-owned Al Maqam Energy Holding, UK-based Octopus Energy and TotalEnergies Renewables UK. Of note, Orient Cable NBO also announced that it planned to buy 8.5% of XLCC, a U.K.-based company that produces standardized 525 kV submarine cables, for £10 million. XLCC is developing the U.K.’s first HVDC cable factory, located in North Ayrshire, Scotland, which will deliver 3,800-km-long cables for the Morocco-UK Power Project. Last November, XLCC reported that it received a £9 million grant from Scottish Enterprise to further develop the North Ayrshire plant located in Hunterston.

“As we continue to work towards building a greener future for Scotland and the wider U.K. ... this grant (puts our new plant project) on the best footing,” said XLCC CEO Ian Douglas. “Green energy is the future, and we want to empower Scotland to be part of the transition.”

Work on the £1.4 billion Hunterston cable manufacturing facility will start this year, with cable production slated for 2026. The first order is for four 3,800-km-long cables for the Xlinks Morocco-UK power project, while additional Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) have been secured for domestic projects.

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