The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
UNSCRUPULOUS criminals are siphoning the highly-valued transformer oil from substations and selling it to players in the mining, welding and fast-food industries for an average price of US$10 per litre, The Manica Post has established.
Sadly, the selfish practice has led to extensive damage of transformers, plunging various communities around the country into darkness for lengthy periods.
While the black market price for the oil hovers around US$10 per litre, an electrical engineer who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity said transformer oil for industrial use can be bought for $7,50 per litre.
According to investigations conducted by The Manica Post over the past month, the stolen transformer oil is often used to cool welding machines and air conditioners.
Mixing it with diesel is said to reduce combustion of the fuel, making it last longer.
In addition, it is said crooked fast-food vendors adulterate vegetable oil with transformer oil to suppress the shifted flavour and ensure re-use of the oil (more than six months).
Unfortunately, the sacrificial lamb in this “business trick” is the consumer who is exposed to harmful fatty acids linked to chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
A cursory Google search revealed that transformer oil is stable at high temperatures and has excellent electrical insulating properties.
Its intended usage is in oil-filled transformers, high-voltage capacitors, fluorescent lamp ballasts, and some types of high-voltage switches and circuit breakers.
It insulates, suppresses corona discharge and arcing, and also serves as a coolant.
At a time when power supply has greatly improved across the country, “unplanned load-shedding” has been on the increase in recent months as a result of transformer breakdowns that occur after oil has been siphoned.
Police in Manicaland have said there has been an increase in the number of transformer oil thefts involving Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (Zetdc) employees.
“We have had an increase in the number of transformer oil thefts. This is a cause for concern given the importance of electricity for both household and industrial use.
“From January to end of September, we recorded seven cases of transformer oil thefts mainly in Mutare and Chipinge. In some of the cases, some Zetdc employees were implicated,” said Manicaland deputy police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Luxson Chananda.
According to sources, some uncouth engineers within Zetdc were working hand in glove with other criminals who are willing to open the transformers and use hosepipes to siphon the oil.
And buyers are ready to pay a fortune for the transformer oil, with black market prices ranging from US$10 to US$300 per litre, depending on the buyer and the intended use.
On average, a medium transformer of about 50KV carries between 20 litres and 30 litres of oil.
In Mutare, there is a ready market for the product with a Murambi man (name and address withheld) being one of the major buyers of the stolen product.
An electrical engineer who spoke on condition of anonymity said the stolen transformer oil is usually used to cool welding machines and air conditioners.
The engineer said the oil can also be mixed with diesel to improve its durability.
“In cities like Mutare, the stolen transformer oil is usually channelled to those in the welding industry. It is used to cool their machines.
“Illegal fuel dealers are also some of the buyers as five litres of transformer oil can be mixed with 200 litres of diesel. Those in that line of business say the mixture of transformer oil and diesel reduces combustion of the diesel, hence making it last longer,” said the source. He said transformer oil can also be used in the manufacturing of mining explosives and deep frying of food.
“We hear of cases where transformer oil is also used in deep frying French fries, with a litre of the oil lasting up to six months, but those cases are rare.”
According to investigations, engineers with the knowledge of when electricity is switched off in specific areas alert their runners to siphon the liquid at the given times.
Unfortunately when the required oil level is not maintained, the transformer’s windings will begin to overheat, eventually leading to
transformer failure.
On numerous occasions and in different suburbs, transformers have been damaged after theft of the oil, thereby leaving residents in the dark for lengthy periods as it takes time for the power utility to either replace or repair the transformer.
A reliable source within the power utility’s Eastern Region office spoke to this publication but declined to be named for fear of reprisal.
The source said theft of transformer oil is a well-choreographed ploy by Zetdc engineers and other criminals.
“Transformer oil is stolen by Zetdc engineers working in cahoots with criminals who are willing to take the risk of siphoning the product. The engineers only need to alert their accomplices on when they will switch off electricity so that they (accomplices) can safely siphon the liquid. We hear there is a lucrative and ready market for the product,” he said.
When contacted for comment, Zetdc spokesperson Ms Prisca Utete referred The Manica Post to the Zetdc general manager for the Eastern Region, Engineer Milton Munodawafa.
However, questions sent to Eng Munodawafa had not been responded to by the time of going to print.
On the other hand, the country’s energy regulatory body, Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) chief executive officer Mr Edington Mazambani said the Authority is concerned with the vandalism of transformers.
“Such destruction of key infrastructure affects the country’s strides towards increasing access to modern energy. It also hinders productive use of energy in industry, commerce, mining and agriculture, which are key levers for economic growth. Zera supports initiatives by the parent ministry to enact punitive laws which will be deterrent enough.
“We are conducting awareness campaigns to educate communities to guard their power infrastructure jealously and this include transformers, cables, poles and substations,” said Mr Mazambani.
Ends.
