Substation blaze sparks fresh power crisis in Dar

Dar es Salaam. Some Dar es Salaam residents will have to endure intermittent electricity cuts for a period of up to two weeks following yesterday’s fire outbreak at the Ubungo substation.

Fire broke out at one of Tanesco’s substations at Ubungo at around 3.30am. The blaze was, however, extinguished by a joint operation between the city fire brigade and Knight Support Security.

No serious damage was caused, according to a statement by Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco), although some major power cables were damaged.

Among other things, control cables and T5 breaker of the 33kV Ubungo substation were affected.

“Our technicians are still working on the damaged sections…we estimate it will take up to two weeks to sort out the damage and bring back to normal the power supply system,” the statement reads.

However, it is likely that some other sections of the substation have also been damaged for technicians as of yesterday were still making an appraisal of the situation.

The Citizen visited the power station yesterday afternoon and found technicians busy at work.

However, Tanesco’s acting managing director Engineer Felchesmi Mramba, explained that it would take up to two weeks for the supply of power in the affected parts of the city to stabilise.

Kinondoni District would be most affected with most of it experiencing blackouts as consumers wait for supply of electricity to return to normalcy.

According to Mr Mramba, the cause of the fire could not be immediately established, but an on-going investigation would soon unearth the “mystery” and the public would be duly informed. Mr Mramba said the loss incurred following the incident was yet to be known and the relevant personnel are going on with the verification.

He also said that the stabilisation of power in the city would take long because the replacement cost of the affected cables was high besides the fact that purchases would take a little long since they have to be done in line with the government procurement procedures.

However, Mr Mramba reassured the people of quick power restoration in some areas as some of the affected locations would be reconnected with the neighbouring functioning substations.

“Technicians are working to fix the problem in a bid to ensure that the power supply returns to normalcy the soonest,” he said. Mr Mramba explained further that Tanesco understands what the people will be going through during the two weeks, but was quick to note that there won’t be a situation of full blackout.

“It will mainly be an on-and-off affair in the locations whose connection with Ubungo has been affected,” he said.

Speaking to The Citizen, one of the sources from the Songas’ Ubungo plant said the fire outbreak was intense but with help of the Knight Support and the Security Group, it was soon put out before any major damage was caused.

According to an eyewitness, a motorcycle taxi operator, Mr Seleman Said, the fire fighters’ response was quick and their efforts to put it out paid off effectively.

“I was here because I am on duty day and night. It was around 3am when I saw the fire. At first we thought it was the Songas burning, until later when we learnt it was the Tanesco’s substation behind Songas that was in trouble,” said Mr Said.

He explained that the fire was thick and everybody was worried it would engulf and destroy the whole power system,” he said.

Mr Said noted that the response from the firemen and the security groups around Ubungo were most effective and the fire was put out successfully.

At the same time, Tanesco has said the state of power dams around the country is stable and there was no likelihood rationings.

However, in recent days, people in various parts of the country have been complaining over what they say are recurrent power interruptions which Tanesco don’t explain.

The most affected areas in the aftermath of the Ubungo accident are: Sinza, Tandale, Shekilango, Magomeni, Ubungo, Dar es Salaam University, Ardhi University and Mburahati.

Others are: Manzese, Changanyikeni, Makongo, Mlimani City, Ubungo Plaza, Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA), and the Tanzania School of Law.

Others are Mabibo External, Tabata, Kimara, Mbezi and Kibamba.