Okatope substation installation complete
Some parts of the Oshikoto and Ohangwena regions experienced power outages, while water supply was interrupted last week.
NamPower technicians installed the new Okatope substation on Saturday, according to its spokesperson Tangeni Kambangula.
Said Kambangula: “the damaged transformer has since been replaced with a new one. The new transformer was commissioned at 11:49 on 23 December 2016. Power supply to the affected customers was restored at 17:55.” She explained that after the installation, the transformer has to be soaked for six hours hence the time period between commissioning and restoring of power.
Nampa reported last week that damage to the Okatope and Okongo substations resulted in a power outage and water supply shortages in some parts of the Oshikoto and Ohangwena regions.
“Alternatives were made and we managed to reconnect places that offer essential services, especially at Omuthiya and Okongo,” said the NamPower area superintendent for transmission network operations, Hendrik Espang.
He said his team provided the Okongo substation with a generator to supply electricity to the Okongo settlement while the transformer there was being repaired.
The Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) has managed to reconnect places affected by the disruption.
“We are hoping to finish the installation of the new transformer this evening or tomorrow morning to start testing it before the station can resume its normal power supply,” said Espang.
NamWater’s chief operating officer for business in northern Namibia, Kaliki Kambanda, on Wednesday commended Nored for supplying power to pump stations in the affected areas.
“Our water supply resumed Wednesday morning after Nored made alternative arrangements by getting power from Omuthiya substation to our pump stations, which were affected from Monday to Tuesday,” Kambanda said.
The Okatope substation transformer was about 20 years old. It was damaged when the technical team was busy repairing the Okongo substation, which was also struck by lightning on Saturday.
The Okatope substation was recently struck by lightning, leaving residents of Okatope and surrounding areas without electricity.
-Additional reporting by NAMPA
STAFF REPORTER
Said Kambangula: “the damaged transformer has since been replaced with a new one. The new transformer was commissioned at 11:49 on 23 December 2016. Power supply to the affected customers was restored at 17:55.” She explained that after the installation, the transformer has to be soaked for six hours hence the time period between commissioning and restoring of power.
Nampa reported last week that damage to the Okatope and Okongo substations resulted in a power outage and water supply shortages in some parts of the Oshikoto and Ohangwena regions.
“Alternatives were made and we managed to reconnect places that offer essential services, especially at Omuthiya and Okongo,” said the NamPower area superintendent for transmission network operations, Hendrik Espang.
He said his team provided the Okongo substation with a generator to supply electricity to the Okongo settlement while the transformer there was being repaired.
The Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) has managed to reconnect places affected by the disruption.
“We are hoping to finish the installation of the new transformer this evening or tomorrow morning to start testing it before the station can resume its normal power supply,” said Espang.
NamWater’s chief operating officer for business in northern Namibia, Kaliki Kambanda, on Wednesday commended Nored for supplying power to pump stations in the affected areas.
“Our water supply resumed Wednesday morning after Nored made alternative arrangements by getting power from Omuthiya substation to our pump stations, which were affected from Monday to Tuesday,” Kambanda said.
The Okatope substation transformer was about 20 years old. It was damaged when the technical team was busy repairing the Okongo substation, which was also struck by lightning on Saturday.
The Okatope substation was recently struck by lightning, leaving residents of Okatope and surrounding areas without electricity.
-Additional reporting by NAMPA
STAFF REPORTER
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