Bush fire set on farms along the Makeni and Lunsar highway are destroying Bumbuna cables.
This was revealed while on an assessment tour made by Minister of Energy and Power, Haja Afsatu Kabba, Project Director of Bumbuna Abdul Jalloh, Consultant for Bumbuna transmission lines Godwin Ocansey and other dignitaries, where it was discovered that three towers have been destroyed by bush fires.
Haja Afsatu Kabba said on Saturday 10th January that so far she is satisfied with the progress made by local and international workers working on the Bumbuna transmission lines as 60% of the transmission lines are completed.
She stated that the work done by the workers show that they are determined to ensure that President Koroma actualizes his dream of restoring electricity in the country.
She was however saddened to say that she is disappointed by the way bush fire has destroyed three towers costing millions of leones.
The minister called on the Local authorities to be vigilant in their locality and ensure that farmers stop setting fires close to Bumbuna cables.
The Bumbuna Project Manager, Abdul Jalloh confirmed that, already three towers have fallen due to bush fire but they have already been replaced. He pointed out that there are no additional spare parts in case another tower is destroyed. Explaining about the affect of the bush fire on the cables, he stated that, the heat from the fire will melt the aluminum cables, adding that each towers cost about $32,000. Jalloh cautioned that if it continues like this Bumbuna will not be in operation in April as it takes five months for spare parts to come in the country. The Consultant Godwin Ocansey said that bush fires remove the galvanization from the steel making it useless. He stated that when the dam from Bumbuna is sending energy to Freetown and there is bush fire along the line, the fire will melt the Aluminum conductor and when it melts it will break the cables and it will affect the tower making it to fall and when it falls Bumbuna cannot send energy to Freetown. Ocansey disclosed that 560 towers have been erected from Bumbuna to Freetown and what is left are the cables to reach Bumbuna. The Minister is however planning to hold meetings with the Forces and Local Authorites to address this issue of bush fire.
By Abibatu Kamara
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