Contractor killed the radio stars

All radio stations, except those run by the state broadcaster PBS which are backed by a generator, went off the air twice yesterday.

While Enemalta attributed the first cut in the morning to damage to a power cable by a contractor, it gave no explanation for the evening cut.

Motorists had to give up their favourite drive-time radio shows as they headed to work yesterday when a damaged electricity cable put most of them off the air for an hour.

The damage was caused at about 7 a.m. by a private contractor who was carrying out works in Għargħur and damaged a 11 kilowatt electricity cable that feeds the Għargħur transmission antenna, Enemalta said. The fault in the cable also interrupted the electricity supply to parts of Lija and Naxxar.

Immediate measures were taken to feed the affected areas through an alternative supply and excavation works to repair the damaged underground cable were initiated immediately, Enemalta said.

Priority was given to the electricity service on the Għargħur transmission station and electricity was restored by 8.04 a.m. Għargħur and Naxxar residents had their electricity service restored by 8.42 a.m. and Lija residents by 10.30 a.m.

Enemalta said it was reviewing its legal position and was considering initiating legal proceedings against the contractor for damages suffered.

At about 6.30 p.m., several radio stations went off the air again. Enemalta was not aware of any power cut but spokesmen from the radio stations believed the fault was caused by a power cut as they could not think of any other explanation. Transmissions returned to normal at about 7.10 p.m.