A cable fault that triggered the nationwide electricity blackout in August escalated after the battery that powered protective systems at a distribution centre failed.

An Enemalta inquiry into the power cut found that different levels of protective systems installed at the Marsa South distribution centre did not operate.

“The cause of this failure was a fault in the direct current supply to the protection and control system at Marsa South distribution centre,” the inquiry board found. 

Part of the distribution centre burst into flames after an explosion caused widespread damage to the switchgear.

The report said the original fault happened at a joint on a cable running between the distribution centre and a substation in Paola. This caused the current on the network to surge, which led to the damage at the distribution centre. Mechanisms to safeguard the power stations from the surge did kick in, which eventually led to the blackout.

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