Maravi

Zesco’s damaged power installation to be restored next Wednesday

Zesco’s damaged power installation to be restored next Wednesday
Written by Florence Bupe
Friday, June 19, 2009 1:54:34 PM

ZESCO Limited has assured that the damaged power installations at the Leopards Hill sub- station will be restored by next Wednesday.

And the power utility has indicated that works at the Coventry Street power distribution unit that was gutted on Thursday in Lusaka’s industrial area were expected to be completed by yesterday afternoon.

Zesco Limited public relations and senior marketing manager Lucy Zimba explained that the power utility had already commenced works to repair and replace some of the gutted equipment and guaranteed that there was no expected load shedding once works on the Leopards Hill sub-station were completed next week.

“We are bringing in transformers from other areas to the Leopards Hill sub- station and this is expected to reduce load shedding in the next few days,” Zimba said. “By Wednesday next week, we expect the situation to get back to normal… and we will be through with repairs on the industrial area installation by 14:00 hours today. We have not yet established the cause of the fire that damaged the installations, but we will issue a statement within the next 24 hours.”

Zimba said the areas from which the transformers would be moved were not likely to be affected in anyway.

Two weeks ago, the country experienced massive load shedding and national blackouts when, according to Zesco officials, debris from weed on the Kafue River blocked the water intake points to the Kafue Gorge Power Station, thereby reducing available water levels required for power generation.

And in the last few days, power equipment has been gutted at the Leopards Hill sub-station, affecting most parts of the country, while another gutted the power distribution unit in industrial area, paralyzing operations in the affected area.

And energy permanent secretary Peter Mumba indicated that government suspects sabotage in the two fires, but Zimba said a report would be given once the cause of the fires had been established. /JC

Labels: ZESCO

posted by MrK @ 12:52 PM