The Authority fears that condition could result in a repeat of the 2003 situation
Maraia vula
suva
The Fiji Electricity Authority has revealed that rainfall received during the current rainy season from November to April has been below the long term average.
Chief executive, Hasmukh Patel, indicated this has resulted in the dam level at Monasavu to be some seven metres below that of 2012 which had been a typically good year for the authority.
“In the year 2013, for some eight months, we experienced below average rainfall at the Monasavu Hydro Dam which resulted in a comparatively low dam level towards the end of the year compared to previous years,” he said.
Given the amount of rainfall, the authority is concerned that the situation in 2003 could repeat again this year.
“In 2003, the FEA had to bring in hired diesel plants at a huge cost to replace the electricity generated normally out of Monasavu as the Monasavu Dam level hit the critical level around October- November in 2003,” he said.
Mr Patel said the authority has had to conserve water and burn large quantities of fossil fuel for electricity generation during the months of March and April 2014
“This has impacted our financials adversely, he said.
“With the Meteorological Office forecasting below rainfall for the months of April to June, the situation is likely to get worse as we enter the dry season from May onwards.
“FEA will continue to burn excessive fuel for the next four – six months in order to manage the water level at the Monasavu Hydro Dam efficiently to sustain operations and meet the electricity demand for Viti Levu.”
The current water level at the Monasavu Dam as of 10 am Thursday April 17 was 734 metres.
Mr Patel said thus is some 19 metres only above the critical level and we enter the dry season in the next two weeks.
“The FEA is humbly and seriously requesting all its valued customers to Conserve Energy in light of the present dam level at Monasavu Hydro Dam,” he said.
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