Cane Fire Causes Unplanned Outage In Parts Of Ba All The Way To Rakiraki
The Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) wishes to advise its valued customers that an unplanned power outage occurred at 8:24am today, Wednesday 13th July 2022, affecting our valued customers in parts of Ba, whole of Tavua, Vatukoula, Nadarivatu and Rakiraki areas.
This unplanned power outage occurred as a result of an uncontrolled cane fire in Veisaru Ba along the 33,000 volts transmission line, which evacuates power supply from the Rarawai Zone Substation in Ba to the Volivoli Zone Substation in Rakiraki. As a result of this uncontrolled cane fire, one of the power poles supporting the 33,000volts transmission line has been burnt and subsequently caused damage to another power pole along the same transmission line.
The burnt power pole and the damaged power pole has now affected our ability to transmit power from EFL’s Rarawai Zone Substation to Vatukoula and Tavua & Rakiraki Zone Substations that serves our valued customers in Tavua, Nadarivatu and Rakiraki.
In order for EFL to replace the burnt and damaged power poles, the 33,000 volts transmission line has been isolated which has caused a major unplanned power outage for our valued customer in parts of Ba, all the way to Navesau in Rakiraki since 8:24am today, Wednesday 13th July 2022.
The burnt and damaged EFL Power Pole along the 33,000 volts transmission line in Veisaru, Ba. Photo: Energy Fiji Limited.
EFL teams have been mobilized and are currently in the process of replacing two power poles in the affected area. Power supply to all the affected areas is expected to be restored by 11:00pm tonight, Wednesday 13th July 2022, weather permitting.
EFL sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience that may be caused as a result of this unplanned power outage which is beyond our control and seeks the cooperation and understanding of all our valued customers in the affected areas.
Customers are reminded to please call 132333 or 913 to report a fire near or on EFL power infrastructure. For emergencies only, call 913.
EFL is requesting members of the public who live along the sugar cane belt areas or along the sugar cane farm residences to take extra precautionary measures when lighting up fires.
We humbly request the public to refrain from burning cane and rubbish near the EFL power poles, which can cause unwarranted damages that compromise safety and is a major hazard, thereby, affecting continuity of power supply.
Road users are requested to refrain from throwing cigarette butts unto the grass verge as these could cause uncontrolled fires to start up especially around exposed areas where power poles are located.
Uncontrolled fires are the prime cause of damage to the electricity infrastructure. Apart from being dangerous and life threatening, fires cause unwanted power interruptions to our valued customers.
Anyone caught causing damages to the electricity infrastructure as a result of burning cane or rubbish will be dealt with according to the law.
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