Fatshimetrie – Explosion of the electrical terminal in Gbadolite
The town of Gbadolite, located in the North Ubangi province, was recently plunged into darkness following another unexpected power outage. Indeed, the residents of the town had to face an alarming situation when the crossing terminal of the Bambu step-down station suffered an explosion, thus causing the interruption of the electricity supply to the region.
According to engineer Roger Egwake Amboka, the transformer explosion that occurred on Saturday June 8 around 7 a.m. caused flames and oil projections, requiring rapid intervention to avoid a more serious disaster. Thanks to the valuable help of the local population of Bambu, especially women and young people who brought sand to contain the fire, the situation was brought under control.
This outage, the eighth of its kind according to technicians from the National Electricity Company (SNEL), highlighted the vulnerability of the region’s electricity network. An urgent response from the authorities is needed to resolve this recurring problem and ensure a stable power supply for the residents of Gbadolite.
It is crucial to emphasize that this failure does not come from the Mobayi-Mbongo hydroelectric power station, as some claim, but rather from the damaged terminal in Bambu. This technical precision is essential to clearly identify the origin of the malfunction and direct repair efforts in the right direction.
While awaiting the resolution of this critical situation, SNEL has set up an emergency generator to provide electricity to subscribers in downtown Gbadolite for a limited period each day. This temporary measure helps to mitigate the impacts of the darkness that reigns over the city and to maintain a certain level of normality for residents.
It is clear that investments and concrete actions are needed to strengthen the region’s electricity infrastructure and prevent such outages in the future. The incident in Gbadolite is a stark reminder of the vital importance of electricity in our daily lives and the need to ensure its availability reliably and consistently.
In conclusion, the situation in Gbadolite highlights the urgency of a profound reform of the energy sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo to guarantee sustainable access to electricity for all. It is imperative that the authorities take the necessary measures to prevent such outages in the future and ensure a stable and safe electricity supply for the entire population.