Lightning Strike Results in Power Outage to Viti Levu
Lightning Strike Results in Power Outage to Viti Levu
A lightning strike caused a power blackout at 4:30pm this afternoon affecting all our customers in Viti Levu.
Power supply has been fully restored in the Central Division of Viti Levu from Namatakula to Deuba to Suva, Nausori, Korovou, Vunidawa, etc.
However, as a result of the lightning strike, the 132,000volts transmission line that transports power from the Wailoa Power Station to the Western Division of Viti Levu has been damaged and will remain out of operation till the repairs are carried out hopefully tomorrow, weather permitting.
The Authority has identified the area where the transmission line has been damaged. This area is only accessible by helicopter and EFL plans to carry out the inspection and thereafter repairs utilizing the services of a helicopter at first light tomorrow morning, weather permitting.
The power supply to the Western Division from Namatakula in Sigatoka to Rakiraki District including Nadi, Lautoka, Ba & Tavua have been affected as a result. Presently we are running our Sigatoka Diesel Power Station independently to cater for the electricity requirements of the Sigatoka District. We are operating the Qeleloa & Nadi Diesel Power Stations to supply essential services in the Nadi District as we cannot supply the full demand due to limited diesel generation capacity in Nadi. We are operating our Vuda Diesel Power Station independently to supply the essential services only in the districts of Lautoka, Ba & Tavua due to limited available diesel generation capacity. We are also running the Rakiraki Diesel Power Station independently to supply the Rakiraki District. We kindly request those customers who have their own standby diesel generators to operate them to cater for their requirements till EFL power supply normalizes.
This situation is likely to continue till the repairs are carried out on the 132,000volts transmission line from Wailoa Power Station to Vuda in the Western Division hopefully tomorrow, weather permitting and a helicopter being available.
The EFL sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience caused to all our valued customers which is beyond our control and we hope to normalize power supply to the Western Division of Viti Levu by tomorrow evening.
Hasmukh Patel
Chief Executive Officer