The Fiji Electricity Authority is in the process of calling for tenders for the construction of its permanent steel lattice towers which were damaged during Cyclone Winston.

FEA chief executive, Hasmukh Patel, said three towers were badly damaged and had fallen during the cyclone.

FEA has since put up temporary structures to get the electricity flowing while they plan for works to start on the permanent structure.

“The works on these steel towers will start early next year and will take around three to four months completion time,” Mr Patel said.

“We started restoration works right after the cyclone hit which was a big task but gradually we restored power supply and it took us six months to complete the entire work.”

Damage caused by Cyclone Winston was one of the worst FEA has every sustained, Mr Patel emphasised.

Temporary pole structures have been constructed in place of the three fallen towers, one on the Wailoa to Vuda transmission line and two on the Nadarivatu transmission line.

“Now that we have fully restored the distribution network, tenders will be called for turnkey design and construction of new permanent steel lattice towers,” Mr Patel said.

EDITED BY: RACHNA LAL

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