DHAKA
Market Intelligence

33KV/11KV Underground Cable Installation

Overview of 33kV/11kV underground cable installation

The 33kV/11kV underground line installation project converts overhead distribution lines in major urban areas of Bangladesh to underground cables. DPDC (Dhaka Power Distribution Company) and DESCO (Dhaka Electricity Supply Company) are issuing tenders, and the core objective is to improve safety and reliability of urban power infrastructure.

In major cities such as Dhaka and Chittagong, exposed overhead lines are vulnerable to cyclones, flooding, and traffic accidents, causing frequent outages. Underground conversion raises disaster resilience and improves urban appearance.

33kV/11kV
Voltage
Underground distribution
500km+
Total Length
Cable to be buried
USD 500M+
Project Cost
Estimated
DPDC/DESCO
Issuer
Distribution utility
ADB/JICA
Financing
Multilateral funding
Dhaka, Chittagong
Coverage
Primary cities
500km+
Conduits
HDPE conduits
20+
Substations
GIS-based

Scope of Work

Scope of 33kV/11kV underground cable installation
CategoryDhakaChittagongTotalNote
33kV underground cable100km50km150km3-core XLPE
11kV underground cable250km100km350km3-core XLPE
Conduits350km150km500kmHDPE ducts
GIS substations12 sites8 sites20 sites33/11kV
RMU100 units60 units160 units11kV distribution split

Benefits of undergrounding

Issues with overhead lines
CycloneFrequent pole failures and outages
FloodingShock risk during inundation
TrafficVehicle collision outages
TheftEasy illegal tapping on exposed lines
Advantages of underground lines
Disaster impactCyclone/flood effects reduced
SafetyLower electrocution and contact risk
StreetscapeNo poles and overhead wires
Theft preventionRestricted access lowers tapping

Korean participation opportunities

01
Power cable exports at scale
Exports of 33kV/11kV XLPE power cables for 500km+ are available. High-volume offerings from Korean firms such as Korea Cable, Korea Motors Power, and Daehan Cable can remain competitive while meeting IEC standards, and cable joints/manhole accessories can be supplied as packages.
02
Trench and manhole works
The project includes over 500km of HDPE conduits and manhole/handhole construction. Korean urban undergrounding execution expertise on temporary traffic management, utility relocation, and restoration can help secure safe quality during dense urban works.
03
GIS substation and RMU exports
For 20 GIS substations (33/11kV) and 160 RMUs, Korean medium-voltage GIS and RMU products can be exported; these items already meet IEC 62271 standards.
04
Underground distribution design and consulting
Service offerings can include route design for 500km+ buried networks, load balancing, protection coordination, and cable sizing. Korean power distribution design standards and implementation know-how can be transferred through project-based consulting.

Project participation flow

Flow for entering underground cable projects
Project information
DPDC, ADB
↓
PQ submission
Cable performance history
↓
Bidding
Equipment / EPC
↓
Delivery and construction
36 months
↓
Trial operation
Grid interconnection

The 33kV/11kV undergrounding initiative is a core urban distribution infrastructure upgrade for Bangladesh and creates a strong pathway for Korean exports of power cable and undergrounding technology.

Uttara 3rd Phase Power UndergroundingReview the Uttara 3rd Phase undergrounding project
Electricity Distribution ModernizationReview distribution upgrades in Chittagong and Sylhet
underground cable33kV11kVdistributionpower grid
33KV/11KV Underground Cable Installation | Dhaka Trade Portal