EFL now able to meet the full electricity demand in the West & power supply to affected areas to be fully restored by the end of this week

Energy Fiji Limited says they are now able to fully meet the electricity demand in the Western Division and will not be rationing supply.

CEO Hasmukh Patel says it is anticipated that the power supply to the remaining affected areas will be fully restored by the end of this week.

He adds their teams are in the process of restoring the power lines that have been affected due to the adverse weather conditions subject to having access to these faulty areas, weather conditions and receding water levels.

Patel says Energy Fiji Limited teams continued to brave the adverse weather conditions in their efforts to identify the fault on the main 132,000 volts main transmission line.

The 132,000 volts transmission line that evacuates power supply from the Wailoa and Nadarivatu Hydro Power Stations tripped on Saturday 8th January 2022 causing a Western Division blackout.

He adds EFL had to use its available thermal generation in the Western Viti Levu to ration and supply the electricity in the Western Division.

Patel further says after multiple attempts to patrol the Nadarivatu to Vuda 132,000 volts transmission line which stretches some 55km in route length, their teams were able to reach the affected site yesterday afternoon.

He adds their team managed to fly out in a helicopter and then walk kilometres across rough and rugged terrain to get to this site.

Patel has revealed that a landslide had brought down a tree that was causing the line to trip or de-energise.

He says their teams were able to remove this fallen tree and clear the transmission line.