In The Name Of Power

The barrage of cyclones has left parts of our national power grid seriously affected. The demand for electricity and to be part of the grid is high.

Vanua Levu is more affected by the direct winds of Tropical Cyclone Yasa and the floods caused by Cyclone Ana. The latter chose a path right through the middle of Viti Levu where EFL power generation plants are.

Damage sustained after the two cyclones was estimated by EFL to be a little more than $10 million.

To restore power, EFL has sent teams to the North. For those deployed out of Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, including in the Central Division, it is about long hours, working seven days a week and being on call.

Fallen lines and broken poles are not replaced in a day. To meet the expectations of the public and estimated time to bring the nation completely on the grid, a lot is required.

Saula Mataibeci, 45, Rigamoto Kava, 42, and Edward Sanday, 30, are a technical crew, given the task to be part of the team looking after the greater Suva area.

“For many, electricity is a basic need. They need it to enjoy what the modern day has to offer. And this is Suva, the most populated area on the grid,” said Mr Mataibeci.

“There are faults and damages done by the cyclone here as well. We are putting in almost 16 hours sometimes.”

The work requires all safety measures to be followed and Mr Mataibeci said this meant that there were no shortcuts.

“We are on call and stay alert even after finishing the work,” Mr Kava said.

“It has been demanding. Most of us only go home to sleep. We wake up and are on the job again. But hats off to our colleagues who are in the North and other places.

“Some of them have been away from home for more than a month.”

Mr Sanday said all days of the week seemed the same.

The three men said they had not been able to attend family functions, church events and had very minimum contact with families.

Mr Mataibeci jested that there were unhappy wives out there. He also acknowledged the work of his colleagues who were working under pressure to meet deadlines and fulfill obligations on the family and social side of life.

Update of the grid

EFL chief executive officer Hasmukh Patel said the EFL team was committed to restoring power nationwide.

“The EFL sincerely apologises to all our valued customers who are yet to get power supply restored to their installations and homes,” said Mr Patel.

“Every metre of the power line has to be physically inspected, safely repaired where required, before it can be energised.

“While this process is time consuming, it is none-the-less critical to ensure the safety and security of power supply.”

EFL’s power restoration priorities following the cyclones were major hospitals and health centres, water pumping stations, water and sewerage treatment plans, the central business district, industrial areas and then residential areas.

“Every effort has been for priority action,” said Mr Patel.

“The EFL wishes to remind the public to treat all broken power lines as live and exercise appropriate precaution by staying away and keeping others away from all broken power lines.

“Do not touch any EFL Line on the ground.”

In the process of power restoration, Mr Patel said the EFL teams felt that the service line or the intermediary pole was defective, the service line would be isolated, customers would need to engage the services of a registered electrical contractor to carry out the repairs.

Feedback:  shalveen.chand@fijisun.com.fj