FEA transmission line needs urgent repair works

The Fiji Electricity Authority said the 132KV transmission line from the Wailoa Hydro Power Station to Suva needs urgent repair works before it is brought back into service.

FEA said this will be undertaken this morning and will take at least half a day.

The authority also said that they need to patrol the entire 60km of the transmission line to ensure the rest of the power line is intact.

This patrol requires the services of a helicopter and can only be carried out provided the weather improves and enables the helicopter to carry out the patrol.

As a result of this transmission line being out of service, FEA will have to resort to supplying the Central Division power demand through its Kinoya Diesel Power Station.

Due to the limited capacity of Kinoya Power Station, the FEA will have to ration power till the transmission line is brought back into service.

FEA anticipates normalizing power supply in the Central Division by tomorrow evening if the weather conditions improve and they are able to carry out the necessary repairs and helicopter patrol of this transmission line and carry out the necessary repairs on other power lines within the Central Division.
 
Many power lines around the country have fallen.

In Suva, a power line has fallen at 50 Extension Street, Suva, and the wire is still live according to the home owner.

Earlier yesterday, a power line in Naitata, Navua, fell due to strong winds from the tropical cyclone.

According to resident Finau Biaunidrano, her son had gone to the shop to buy batteries when he noticed the broken power line lying on the road.

FEA CEO Hasmukh Patel said as circumstances may cause any power line to be electrified at any time, please treat every line as being live.