8 Jul 2003

Logging operations cause of major power outage in Fiji's central and western divisions

10:19 am on 8 July 2003

The Fiji Electrical Authority has ruled out sabotage in yesterday's widespread power failure which struck the central and western divisions of the main island Viti Levu.

Venues for the South Pacific Games, factories, supermarkets, shops and offices and tens of thousands of households around Suva and the western towns were affected.

But the state-owned company's acting chief executive, Kasa Saubulinayau, has told the Fiji Sun newspaper there was no way to sabotage the 132 thousand volt transmission lines from the Monasavu hydro plant.

He says the power outage was caused by a pine tree logging accident.

During the blackout, power was generated by standby diesel generators for priority areas including South Paciffic Games venues and hospitals.