Dili, Feb. 23, 2025 (Lusa) - The president of the Timor-Leste Electricity Company (EDTL), Paulo Silva, recognised that there had been power cuts all over the country due to technical problems and natural disasters caused by bad weather.
"We recognise that, at the moment, we are facing power cuts due to technical and non-technical causes. Among the non-technical causes, natural disasters have played a significant role," said Paulo Silva, in an interview with Lusa.
He explained that the bad weather recorded over the last three weeks, including heavy rain and intense wind, has caused landslides and falling trees that have damaged distribution lines, but there is also some vandalism that contributes to the interruption of the power supply.
According to Paulo Silva, there are also interruptions for "regular maintenance activities to ensure how reliable the power supply is" and due to the "increased demand for electricity which can sometimes cause sudden peaks that overload the transformers and cause faults".
Earlier this month, several of the country's MPs criticised EDTL for its constant power cuts, both in the capital and in the municipalities. Restoration took days in some places.
"Our technical teams respond immediately when power cuts are reported, working to identify and resolve the problems as quickly as possible," said the president of EDTL.
Concerning municipalities, he explained that power takes longer to be restored due to "local challenges, especially in remote areas".
"In these cases, access to the affected areas can be difficult, leading to delays of a few days before power is fully restored," explained Paulo Silva.
"Despite these challenges, our teams are working tirelessly to maintain a stable power supply for the public. While we recognise that problems persist, we are committed to working hard and continuing our efforts to ensure stable power supply wherever possible," he said.
The EDTL president also warned energy consumers not to make illegal connections, pointing out that during inspections, they often find direct connections to the electricity network "without installing meters and without paying for the electricity".
"We issue notices and public announcements to inform customers of the need for cooperation. If there is no cooperation and illegal connections are identified, we will apply the rules and regulations, including corresponding fines, without exception, even for EDTL employees. All users must pay for their electricity consumption, and to this end, it is essential that we impose these rules to ensure that everyone complies," he said.
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