702 Interview: Energy Expert Highlights Alarming Rise in Substation Fires: Overloading, Theft, and Maintenance Gaps Threaten South Africa's Power Grid.
In a candid discussion on 702 Drive with host John Perlman, Professor Valli Padiachi, a veteran energy expert and former executive manager at Eskom and City Power, revealed the multifaceted causes behind the surge in substation fires plaguing South Africa. As incidents escalate amid economic pressures and infrastructure strain, Padiachi called for urgent investments in maintenance and rapid-response security to avert widespread blackouts and safety risks.
The interview, sparked by a recent substation fire in Bosworth, Ekurhuleni, delved into the “seven deadly sins” of substation vulnerabilities. Padiachi outlined key triggers including aged and faulty equipment, overloading from rampant illegal connections, environmental debris buildup, short circuits, human error during maintenance, lightning strikes, and chronic poor upkeep. “Overloading is quite topical because we have illegal connections which is rife in the country,” Padiachi explained. “Illegal connections overload the transformer and the circuit, and if it’s not managed well, it will lead to a fire. Transformers consist of flammable material and oil – it’s ripe for disaster.” Padiachi noted a stark uptick in such fires over the past three to four years, intensified by the shift from traditional load shedding to “load reduction” – a measure driven not by electricity shortages but by grid overloads. This phenomenon, he warned, creates overheating conditions that frequently ignite blazes, disrupting power to entire communities.“Some of them are so desperate they break into it and lots of them die actually,” Padiachi shared, emphasizing that while physical barriers like fences and non-lethal electric fencing provide a first line of defense, the real weakness lies in response times.“Security of infrastructure like a substation has two ways: human bodies or technology,” he said. “We use technology – alarms to control rooms monitored 24/7 – but if you don’t respond through police or security, you’re wasting your time.” On maintenance, Padiachi stressed the high costs and skilled labor required for essential components such as transformers, switchgear, cables, and circuit breakers. Budget constraints have led to cut corners, he argued, underscoring the need for South Africa’s utilities to prioritize funding. “You cannot afford to have mediocre maintenance for high-tech equipment like a substation transformer – then you’ll come short.” The discussion underscores broader systemic challenges in South Africa’s energy sector, where illegal connections and theft exacerbate an already fragile grid. Padiachi’s insights come at a pivotal moment, as municipalities and Eskom grapple with balancing cost-saving measures against the escalating financial and human toll of infrastructure failures.
