A bush fire affected the Electricity Fiji Limited (EFL) power infrastructure causing a power disruption and inconvenience to our members of the public leaving within the Sigatoka to Korolevu areas.
EFL Chief Executive Officer, Hasmukh Patel said an extensive bush fire burnt one of EFL’s wooden power poles that evacuates electricity via the 33,000 volts transmission power line from the Sigatoka Power Station to the Korolevu Substation.
“The burnt power pole poses an eminent safety risk and needs to be urgently replaced,” Mr Patel said.
“In order for EFL to safely replace the burnt power pole, a planned power outage is required which will affect our valued customers in the areas from Sovi Bay to Korolevu from 8am today, Thursday September 30, 2021 till 10pm.
The following areas are affected by this unplanned shutdown:
Namada Village, Vatukarasa Village, Balenabelo Village, Balenabelo Settlement, Koroinasau School, Sovi Bay, Warwick Resort, Naviti Resort. Whole of Korolevu Village, Korolevu Police Post, Korolevu Post Office, Villa Del Cowrie, Korolevu Health Centre, Korolevu Shopping Centre, Coral Lagoon Fiji Resort, Votua Village, Vilisite’s Restaurant, Pacific Service Station in Korolevu, Telecom & Vodafone Site Korolevu, Votua Housing, Naviti Pumping Station, Votualailai, Digicel Tower, Nagasau Settlement, Muanivunise Sub-Division, Maui Bay East Road Maui Bay West Road, Valase, Tagaqe Village, Digicel Site, Maui Bay Sub-divisions, Epic Intern Ltd, Total Service Station Maui Bay, Tagaqe Old Forestry station and surrounding areas.
“EFL teams with contractors worked all throughout last night, clearing the path to create a temporary access road stretching some 4km which is required to allow EFL teams to transport the 15.5 metres pole and line hardware materials to the site.”
Mr Patel said power supply to the affected areas is expected to be restored by 10pm tonight, September 30, 2021, weather permitting.
“EFL requests members of the public to refrain from lighting fires in the vicinity of wooden power poles.
“Such fires cause unwanted power interruptions to our valued customers.
“EFL sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience caused to all our valued customers due to this power outage.”
