Supplied
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality said a full investigation was launched into an explosion at a substation situated at the Coega Industrial Development Zone on Saturday.
The Metro said the explosion led to an electricity blackout in surrounding areas within the Motherwell area, including 15 customers in the Coega Special Economic Zone.
Damage to the substation is estimated at R40 million, according to a statement by Executive Mayor, Retief Odendaal, on Sunday.
He led an emergency meeting of the Joint Operations Centre on Sunday where the decision on a full probe into the explosion was decided.
“As a short-term electricity solution, and to circumvent further negative impact on customers and residents, plans are currently underway to back-feed and restore electricity supply from another substation also within the Coega SEZ,” he said.
The medium-term plan is to construct a line to reconnect the affected residents and IDZ customers from the nearby substation while construction work to rehabilitate the substation continues.
“A contractor is already on site to restore electricity in the short to medium term. Security is currently being re-inforced to protect critical strategic infrastructure,” Odendaal said.
He also appealed to residents “to be vigilant and work together with the Municipality and law enforcement agencies to curb vandalism and criminality targeted at Municipal infrastructure that provides basic services to our community.”
Odendaal said Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality was working hard to restore power to the affected residents and businesses.
