Products Supplied:
- JZD Orange Circular Cable (AS/NZS 5000.2 compliant)
- JZD Steel Tape Armored (STA) Cable
Specifications & Quantities:
- Orange Circular 2.5mm² 2C+E: 5,500 m — accommodation lighting & general power
- Orange Circular 4mm² 2C+E: 3,200 m — general power circuits
- Orange Circular 6mm² 2C+E: 1,800 m — sub-mains to accommodation blocks
- Orange Circular 10mm² 3C+E: 1,200 m — sub-mains to HQ, medical, logistics buildings
- Orange Circular 16mm² 3C+E: 600 m — main feeders to zone distribution boards
- STA Cable 4C×16mm²: 2,400 m — underground building feeders
- STA Cable 4C×25mm²: 1,500 m — main distribution feeders
- STA Cable 4C×35mm²: 900 m — main incoming to distribution
- STA Cable 4C×50mm²: 500 m — transformer to main switch room
Total Cable Supplied: Approx. 17,600 meters
Client: A Fiji-based electrical subcontractor engaged by the Australian Department of Defence
Project Name: Blackrock Peacekeeping & HADR Camp Redevelopment, Nadi, Fiji
Project Commencement Date: Q3 2020
Project Status: Completed Q4 2021 (officially opened early 2022)
Project Details & Narrative:
Market Context — Australia-Fiji Vuvale Partnership
The Blackrock Camp redevelopment is one of the most significant infrastructure projects delivered under the Australian Government’s “Vuvale” (family) partnership with Fiji. Located approximately 10 minutes north of Nadi International Airport, the camp serves as a training hub for the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.
The project was delivered by the Australian Defence Force’s 19th Chief Engineer Works (19 CE Works) unit in partnership with RFMF personnel and Fijian civilian subcontractors. Over 95% of the on-site workforce was Fijian, with the project injecting approximately FJD$35 million into the local economy.
The Facility
The redeveloped Blackrock Camp includes:
- New perimeter fencing and entrance/guard house
- Headquarters building
- Logistics precinct with HADR warehouse
- Lecture and classroom teaching facilities
- Medical facility (Level 1 hospital capability)
- Living-in accommodation for trainees and permanent staff
- Physical training facilities including a gymnasium
- Parade ground
- Sports field with high-intensity LED lighting
- Solar panels on majority of roofs for sustainable power
- Rainwater harvesting systems for irrigation and potable water supplementation
Cable Challenges & Standards
As an Australian Government-funded project built to Australian Defence infrastructure standards, all electrical installations followed AS/NZS standards:
| Application | Cable Type | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Building power & lighting | Orange Circular Cable | AS/NZS 5000.2 |
| Underground mains feeders | Steel Tape Armored (STA) | AS/NZS 5000 / IEC |
| Environmental sustainability | Solar-ready cable infrastructure | AS/NZS 5033 |
The project’s environmentally sustainable design — including roof-mounted solar panels, LED lighting, and rainwater harvesting — required careful cable planning to integrate renewable energy systems with conventional power distribution.
The Two-Cable Strategy
The project’s electrical design called for two primary cable types:
- Orange Circular Cable — the standard Australian/NZ mains and sub-mains cable, used throughout the facility’s interior electrical distribution. The distinctive orange sheath provides easy identification and compliance with Australian color-coding conventions.
- Steel Tape Armored (STA) Cable — used for all underground distribution between buildings and for main incoming feeders from the transformer to the main switch room. The steel tape armor provides mechanical protection against the site’s rocky terrain and heavy vehicle traffic.
Why JZD Won
- Complete AS/NZS Compliance: JZD Cable’s orange circular cables were manufactured strictly to AS/NZS 5000.2 specifications, with full electrical test data, insulation resistance, and conductor resistance records provided for every production batch.
- Armored Cable Manufacturing Capability: Not all cable manufacturers can produce steel tape armored cable efficiently. JZD’s STA production line delivered consistent armor overlap, smooth sheath application, and verified mechanical protection — critical for underground installation in rocky Fijian terrain.
- Full Size Range Supply: JZD supplied the complete size range from 2.5mm² to 50mm² across both cable types — eliminating the need for the contractor to split procurement across multiple suppliers.
- Defense Project Documentation: Government and defense infrastructure projects demand exhaustive documentation. JZD provided: certificate of conformity per AS/NZS 5000, raw material traceability, batch test reports, and packing lists with cable drum identification numbers — satisfying the project’s quality audit trail requirements.
- Fiji Shipping Logistics: JZD had prior experience exporting to Pacific island destinations, including Fiji. The team coordinated container shipping from Shenzhen to Nadi Port, handling all export documentation, customs clearance paperwork, and cable drum packaging suitable for tropical climate transit.
Execution & Outcome
The cable supply was delivered in three coordinated shipments aligned with the construction schedule:
- Shipment 1 (Q4 2020): STA cables for underground mains infrastructure — the first cables to be installed during site preparation
- Shipment 2 (Q1 2021): Orange circular cables for the accommodation and headquarters buildings
- Shipment 3 (Q2 2021): Remaining cables for the medical facility, sports field lighting, and teaching facilities
Post-installation:
- All underground STA cables passed insulation resistance testing after backfilling
- Orange circular cables pulled cleanly through conduits and trunking with no sheath damage
- The facility’s electrical systems passed acceptance testing and commissioning on schedule
- Blackrock Camp was officially opened in early 2022 with a ceremony attended by the Prime Minister of Fiji and the Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific
JZD Cable AS/NZS Cable Highlights:
| Cable | Standard | Key Specification |
|---|---|---|
| Orange Circular | AS/NZS 5000.2 | PVC insulated & sheathed, circular, 0.6/1kV |
| Steel Tape Armored | AS/NZS 5000 / IEC | Steel tape armor, PVC outer sheath, mechanical protection |
About JZD Cable
JZD Cable (Shenzhen JZD Wire & Cable Co., Ltd.) is a professional cable manufacturer with over 20 years of experience, headquartered in Shenzhen, China. We produce a comprehensive range of building cables compliant with AS/NZS, UL, IEC, and EN standards — including orange circular cables, TPS flat cables, steel tape armored cables, and fire-rated alarm cables. Our products serve government, defense, and institutional infrastructure projects across the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. Every shipment is backed by ISO 9001 quality management with complete certification documentation and batch traceability.
Need AS/NZS compliant cables for your government, defense, or institutional project? Contact JZD Cable for a customized quotation, free sample evaluation, or technical consultation.
