Solar panels eases Buiebi prison’s power supply woes

THE Buiebi Correctional Services in Southern Highlands has installed solar panels to ease continuous power outage the province is facing.
Prison commanding officer Chief Insp Bob Omba told The National that a K1 million was made available by the provincial government and it was used to install solar panels, construct an office complex and renovation of five staff houses.
He said contractor Bonny Gam Solar Distributors installed 16 solar panels and two switch boards that would power five cell blocks and security lights inside the prison.
Chief Insp Omba said during blackouts, prisoners get rowdy in the darkness and a back-up power system was needed to keep the facility properly lit.
“The prison has a 100Kva standby generator but it consumes a lot of fuel and it was a costly exercise when there were not enough funds to continue the service,” he said.
“Power outages at a prison puts the spotlight on them, whether it is fully prepared to deal with emergencies.”
Omba said work was progressing on building the office complex led by Sgt Gai Dege, who is a carpenter, with help from prisoners under the rehabilitation programme.