PUTRAJAYA – An initial investigation by the Energy Commission found that Wednesday’s fire at Mid Valley Megamall was caused by a transformer at a substation catching fire, which cut power to the entire system supplied by the substation.
The commission’s initial investigation also found that the cable system for the entire TX2 transformer at the mall’s main entrance substation was also affected as it was close to the fire.
“Currently, (the commission) is conducting an investigation to identify the true cause of the incident,” it said in a statement today.
On Wednesday, a video of plumes of black smoke billowing from the mall had gone viral on social media.
The energy commission said the fire at about 10.30am had caused all four transformers in the substation to lose supply, causing an electricity outage, and power was successfully restored in stages around 12.30pm the same day.
“(The commission) takes a serious view of cases like this – which not only affect the stability of the electricity supply system, but also involve the safety of the public,” said the commission, which is the regulatory body for electricity and piped gas supply in Peninsular Malaysia.
If there is any negligence or fault by any party, the commission said it would take appropriate action under the Electricity Supply Act 1990 and the Electricity Regulations 1994.
The commission said Tenaga Nasional Bhd is also preparing a mitigation plan to resupply power to the mall through the installation of new cables. – Bernama, May 19, 2023
