Four power cuts in a week

Enemalta is investigating the fourth unscheduled power cut this week, caused by a fault at turbine five at the Marsa power station and leaving hundreds without electricity.

An Enemalta spokesman said the fault developed at about 11.05 a.m. and affected parts of Paceville, St Julians, Sliema, Pembroke, Kappara, Swieqi, Madliena, Gżira, Msida, Ta' Xbiex, Qormi, Mrieħel, Birkirkara, Sta Venera, San Ġwann, Attard, Balzan, Marsa, Guardamangia, Ħamrun, Floriana, Ħal Far, Żurrieq, Safi and Kirkop.

Power was eventually restored to all localities by 11.48 a.m. Ħal Far was the only exception, where electricity returned at 12.15 p.m.

However, the corporation remained in the dark over the cause, with its spokesman saying the matter was still being investigated.

This power cut follows closely on Wednesday's, when a cooling water pump of the combined turbine at Delimara tripped at 9.15 a.m. This lasted five minutes at Marsascala and Birżebbuġa and 15 to 20 minutes in other localities, including Naxxar, Attard, Buġibba, Mosta and Gozo.

Then at about 4.41 p.m., another outage struck Birkirkara, Lija, Attard, Mrieħel and Balzan after a cable fault.

On Monday, at about 5.38 p.m., one of the turbines at the Delimara power station malfunctioned, affecting Sliema, Attard, Mosta, St Paul's Bay, Mtarfa, Mellieħa, Sta Venera, Attard, Rabat and Gozo, among others.