Madagascar: Recurring electricity cuts in Antananarivo

Event

Recurring cuts to the electricity supply have been reported in the capital city Antananarivo in recent weeks; the outage is reportedly observed between 18:00 and 19:30 (local time). According to the water and electricity company that serves the capital, Jirama, the supply shortage is due to illegal use (e.g. illegal connections) reported in nearly 40 percent of visited homes. These incidences of illegal use allegedly lead to surges, thus resulting in cuts to electricity. The most affected neighborhoods of the capital are Ankatso, 67ha, and Itaosy. To address this problem, Jirama is urging local residents, neighborhoods chiefs, and the police to report the illegal use of electricity connections. Related social unrest (protests, etc.) cannot be ruled out.

Context

Clandestine electricity connections cause overvoltage, which damage or even destroy the transformers responsible for supplying electricity to the city. The typical lifetime of a transformer, which is supposed to be up to 20 years, is often reportedly reduced to one year due to the surges.

Jirama company must also contend with electrical cable theft; 17 km (10.5 mi) of cables have reportedly been stolen since the beginning of the year.

Advice

Individuals are advised to monitor developments to the situation and avoid all gatherings as violence may flare up without warning. Anticipate likely electricity cuts and keep all battery-powered devices fully charged whenever possible.