Mooikloof substation fire reported after external power line fault

What happened

An explosion at the Mooikloof substation on a Wednesday night was reported to have been due to a fault on one of the 11 kV power lines outside the substation. The subsequent fire damaged Transformer B and the 11 kV panels. Technical teams were still investigating the root cause and testing equipment, and no restoration time had been given. Named affected areas included Pretorius Park and extensions, including Woodhill, and Moreleta Park, including Pretoria East Hospital, Woodlands Lifestyle Estate and other local sites.

Contributing factors

A fault on an 11 kV power line outside the substation was reported as the cause of the explosion. The root cause of the fire was still under investigation.

Lessons learned

1. A fault on a line outside a substation can still damage transformers and panels inside.
2. Restoration planning should wait on equipment testing and cleanup rather than an estimated return time.
3. Public updates should name the affected areas and say clearly when a restoration time is not yet known.

Source

jacarandafm.com