By Eleanor Gee, with photos by Linny Folau

Cyclone Gita has hit Tonga with a massive power bill. 

It will cost an estimated NZD$20 million to fix the cyclone damage to the power grid on Tongatapu and ‘Eua, said Seti Chen, Operations Manager for Tonga Power Ltd today.

This figure is from an initial assessment after the cyclone but if all goes well it may end up costing less.

“Obviously, we’re using a lot of hardware and material that we’ll be able to salvage and reuse but at the end of this week we will have a more accurate value of the overall damage,” he told Matangi Tonga.

Seti said they “were able to use some funding from existing projects” to start fixing damage immediately after the cyclone, but to keep the recovery going they will receive funds donated from various countries and organisations.

Coping

Tonga Power Ltd. staff have been pressed to get power back up and running throughout Tongatapu and ‘Eua and were working round the clock after the cyclone hit.

“Last week we needed to get all the essential services done, so we were working longer hours but we’ve cut back a bit this week,” said Seti who said they have cut back to 16 hour days.

“We’re working Monday to Saturday from 6am to 8pm and then 8pm to 10pm. So that’s about a 16 hour day.”

“We’re starting to feel the pace and starting to tire out now, but we’re going pretty well actually. Hopefully, in the next two to four weeks we should have everything up and running.”

He said they have been inundated with calls, especially this week and even throughout the night, to get the power up and running, and they’re doing their best. With the recent arrival of the Australian linesmen, they will be able to work faster.

As for the solar farms, there was no damage to the ones on Tongatapu but in ‘Eua they lost a few solar panels. Seti said the solar system is currently switched off while work is underway to restore power.

Power status

TPL Foreman, Semi Tei, who was out working with his crew on Hihifo Road this afternoon said that they were repairing the main power line from Maui in Kolomotu’a out to Nukunuku.

He said when this done they will fix the sub-lines in villages and confirm that it is safe before turning it on, starting from this evening.

The remainder of the power grid in the Western District is still down. Today Tonga Power released a list of the areas where they have already restored power.

Power supply has been restored to the hospital, water board, and radio transmitter, along with NEMO, police, armed forces, wharves, telecommunications operators, bakery, embassies, banks, hotels, the Post Office, Prime Minister's Office and some other government ministries.

Tonga Cable Ltd. at Sopu providing Tonga's international internet connectivity, was running by generator after the cyclone, but had power restored today. ""Indirectly, some critical damage happened to one of our two standby generators last night, but fortunately enough power has been restored by Tonga Power Ltd. this morning 22 February, 2018," said Tonga Cable Ltd's new CEO, Edwin Liava'a.

Work crews of linesmen and lineswoman were out baking in the hot sun today fixing the Tongatapu grid pole by pole, and mending lines. Orange road cones clearly mark the roadside work areas. Motorists are advised to please slow down when passing the lines crews who have many long hours or recovery work ahead.