Title: Power failure plunges Gbadolite into darkness
Introduction :
Since Sunday August 28, the town of Gbadolite, located in the province of Nord-Ubangi in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been plunged into darkness following a power outage at the Mobayi-Mbongo hydroelectric power station. This failure, caused by a short circuit in the automatic system of the plant, had significant socio-economic consequences for the population of the city.
A technical problem at the hydroelectric plant:
The power outage in Gbadolite occurred at the level of the automaton cabinet which houses the only machine still in service out of the three installed at the Mobayi-Mbongo hydroelectric power station. A short circuit occurred in a cabin in the city, impacting the automatic system of this machine.
Waiting for an expert for the repair:
To remedy this breakdown, the National Electricity Company (SNEL) of Gbadolite is awaiting the arrival of an expert from Kinshasa, the country’s capital. This expert will be responsible for reprogramming the automatic system, thus allowing the production units to be put back into service and the supply of electricity to the city.
Socio-economic consequences:
The power outage has major repercussions on the daily life of the inhabitants of Gbadolite. Indeed, it becomes difficult to keep food fresh and to cool drinks. In addition, many traders and artisans, such as mill owners, welding or sewing workshops, find themselves without activity, which affects their income and compromises their ability to ensure their children go back to school.
Use of generators:
Faced with the lack of available electricity, some businesses and office automation in Gbadolite are forced to use generators to maintain their activity. This generates additional costs and dependence on fuel supply, thus impacting the profitability of the companies concerned.
Conclusion :
The power outage at the Mobayi-Mbongo hydroelectric plant plunges the town of Gbadolite into darkness, with significant socio-economic consequences for its population. Waiting for the expert from Kinshasa to repair the automatic system highlights the importance of maintaining and modernizing the country’s energy infrastructure. As electricity is essential to the development and well-being of communities, it is crucial to invest in the reliability and resilience of the electricity network, in order to guarantee a stable and continuous supply for all