“They wanted to connect an extension cord to use an angle grinder” - What happened to the transformer at Parkwood?
On October 27, two people sustained burn injuries after entering a transformer substation at the Parkwood residential complex in Tashkent, with one of them admitted to the intensive care unit. According to a specialist from "Tashkent City Electric Networks" who spoke with Kun.uz, they obtained the key to the transformer substation from the security guard, although the key should be kept by the responsible person. As it became known, in many new buildings, transformer substations have not been transferred to the balance sheet of the Regional Electric Networks Company.
“They wanted to connect an extension cord to use an angle grinder” - What happened at the transformer substation in Parkwood?
On October 27, a video circulated in Tashkent showing a person on fire and bystanders trying to extinguish the flames. It was revealed that the incident occurred in the transformer substation belonging to the Parkwood residential complex, located in the Mirobod district of Tashkent city.
As a result of the incident, two people were hospitalized. They were brought to the RSSPMCE (Republican Scientific Center for Emergency Medical Care). According to a Kun.uz reporter who visited the hospital, one of the patients received medical assistance and was discharged home, while the second was admitted to the intensive care unit.
The transformer substation where the incident occurred is not on the balance sheet of the “Tashkent City Electric Networks” enterprise. In its initial report, the company stated that the fire was caused by an “interphase short circuit that occurred during repair work on the transformer.” However, company specialist Aziz Tuychiyev mentioned a different cause in a later interview with Kun.uz.
“The builders there took the key to the transformer substation from the watchman, and when they tried to connect an extension cord to use an angle grinder, they were injured by an electric arc. In fact, the key should be with the responsible person, not the watchman,” Tuychiyev said.
Kun.uz asked who is responsible for electrical safety in newly built apartment buildings. According to the representative of the Tashkent City Electric Networks Enterprise (HETK), a person responsible for the operation of the transformer substation must be designated, possess the appropriate knowledge and qualifications, and carry out work in compliance with safety requirements.
As the specialist from “Tashkent City Electric Networks” explained, when commissioning a transformer substation belonging to a construction company, permission must be obtained in accordance with the established procedure, and documents regarding the responsible persons must be formalized.
If the enterprise does not have an energy specialist on staff, a contract can be concluded with a specialized organization to service the transformer substation. In any case, a person responsible for the work at the transformer substation must be appointed, and electrical safety requirements must be observed.
After the transformer substation is transferred to the balance sheet of “Tashkent City Electric Networks”, the procedure for storing and retrieving the keys is controlled through the company's system.
Aziz Tuychiyev stated that he could not provide exact figures regarding how many of the new apartment buildings in the capital have been transferred to the balance sheet of the electric networks enterprise. According to his estimate, transformer substations in 30–40 percent of newly built apartment buildings have been transferred to the HETK balance sheet. The remainder may be on the balance sheet of the construction company or other organizations.
Kun.uz also tried to speak with representatives of the management company to get a comment on the incident at the Parkwood residential complex, but they did not answer the questions.