Power interruption caused by underground cable fault
KUCHING: An underground cable fault affected power supply to Samariang and Santubong on Tuesday during a scheduled shutdown for works.
The works were to upgrade one of two 33kV underground cables from Astana Substation supplying Samariang up to Santubong.
“One of the two cables supplying to Samariang and Santubong Substation from Astana Substation was shut down for upgrading earlier in the morning. However, at around 5pm, the other cable tripped due to a fault in the cable. This caused loss of supply to customers staying around Samariang and Santubong areas,” Sarawak Energy vice-president for distribution Siti Aisah Adenan said in a press statement.
“The upgrading work is planned to enhance the network system to cater for the increasing load demand in the areas. The underground cable fault takes time to locate and repair, especially at night, so the team decided to expedite the upgrading works already progressing halfway at Samariang Substation instead.”
Supply was fully restored at 1.20am on Wednesday after the completion of extensive works on the underground cable.
Three mobile generators were deployed to supply parts of the affected areas while repair works were being carried out.
Siti said the technical team worked through the night and
One of the two cables supplying to Samariang and Santubong Substation from Astana Substation was shut down for upgrading earlier in the morning. However, at around 5pm, the other cable tripped due to a fault in the cable. This caused loss of supply to customers staying around Samariang and Santubong areas.
successfully energised the upgraded cable for full restoration to the affected areas.
The cable upgrading work is part of the system reinforcement plan covering Samariang up to Santubong, being undertaken by Sarawak Energy’s utility arm Syarikat Sesco Bhd.
The works include the construction of the new Aminudin Baki Substation, laying of cables from Samariang to Aminudin Baki Substation, and the uprating of existing Astana- Samariang cables.
Expected to be completed next year, the upgrading works will cost around RM45 million and will be implemented in stages.
Siti Aisah Adenan, Sarawak Energy vice-president for distribution