Undersea cable fault leaves inner islands without power for 28 hours |01 August 2017

The inner islands of Cerf, Ste Anne, Moyenne, Round and Long were without electricity for some 28 hours after an electrical fault developed on the undersea cable supplying electricity from Mahé to these islands.

Immediately after the fault occurred around 3pm on Saturday, the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) mobilised a team to establish the nature of the fault on the cable.

Following extensive tests carried out on the cable, it was established that the fault was located within 60 metres of the inner island substation at Providence, along the section of the cable running deep below the reclaimed area on a construction site.

Excavation works started immediately after the approximate location of the fault was determined to enable PUC repair crew to access the cable and undertake repairs.

Excavation continued late into the night but the cable was found to be extremely deep - approximately 3 metres - below the reclamation, making it very difficult to expose it sufficiently for the repairs to be undertaken.

Additional plant and equipment (extra JCBs, larger water pumps) were mobilised and transported on site to enable the PUC repair crew to excavate deeper and broader into the ground in order to access the cable.

Work continued throughout Sunday to safely access the cable and carry out the necessary repair works. Electricity supply was restored around 7.15pm on Sunday.

PUC has thanked its staff who diligently and tirelessly worked around the clock to enable electricity supply to be restored at the earliest to the inner islands affected.

PUC regrets the inconvenience caused to its customers and thanks them for their patience and understanding.