The Algerian city of Tizi-Ouzou is experiencing frequent power outages and voltage drops during the hot summer months. Residents and local officials have expressed frustration with the situation, which is exacerbated by high temperatures and forest fires. To address these issues, Mohamed Djouadi, director of the SDC de Tizi-Ouzou, has provided insight into the causes of the outages and the company's plans to improve the power infrastructure.
According to Djouadi, the power outages are often caused by exceptional weather conditions, such as high temperatures and forest fires. During these periods, the excessive use of air conditioning leads to temporary overloading of power lines, resulting in disruptions to the distribution network. Additionally, some households and industries are not properly connected to the power grid, leading to voltage drops and power outages.
Djouadi also cited other factors contributing to the power outages, including the use of unauthorized and makeshift power connections. Some households are fed through "rétrocession," a non-compliant and condemnable practice that poses a risk to residents. Furthermore, certain industrial clients have expanded their operations without upgrading their power connections, leading to voltage drops and power outages.
The director of the SDC de Tizi-Ouzou also highlighted the issue of incivisme, or acts of vandalism and negligence, which account for a significant proportion of power outages. In the previous year, 19% of power outages were caused by third-party damage to electrical infrastructure, including construction near power lines and cables. The company has identified over 600 cases of unauthorized construction near medium-voltage power lines and over 1,400 cases near low-voltage power lines.
To address these challenges, the SDC de Tizi-Ouzou has implemented several investment programs since 2012 to strengthen and improve the power infrastructure. The company has commissioned 350 new substations and constructed 472 kilometers of new power lines across the wilaya. In the current year, nine new substations have been commissioned, and 65 kilometers of new power lines have been completed.
The SDC de Tizi-Ouzou is also upgrading its power infrastructure to meet growing demand. The wilaya is fed by six substations with a capacity of 2x40 MVA each and two mobile substations with a capacity of 20 MVA. In 2019, two significant power upgrades were completed at the Fréha and Oued-Aïssi substations, with the installation of additional transformers with a capacity of 40 MVA each.
Despite these efforts, the SDC de Tizi-Ouzou faces challenges in implementing its investment programs. The main constraint is opposition from local residents and authorities, which has delayed several projects. The company is working to overcome these challenges and ensure a reliable power supply to its customers.
Key points
- 19% of power outages in Tizi-Ouzou were caused by acts of incivisme in the previous year.
