The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) says investigations have revealed that the cause of a fire incident in Lusaka’s Libala South Area was an external ignition, contrary to insinuations that the fire was caused by wrongful installation of Solar Panels.
A video was circulated on social media showing a rooftop on fire, on Sunday, 15th September 2024, purporting the a residential property had caught fire due to wrongful installation of solar panels
“The suspected cause of the fire was an external ignition whilst the homeowner and his family had left for work as per their normal routine,” ERB Manager – Public Relations, Namukolo Kasumpa has said in a statement issued to RCV News in Lusaka today.
Ms. Kasumpa said initial investigations revealed that the property in question did not have solar panels installed as purported in the social media clip circulated.
She said at the time of the fire, the area in which the property is situated was experiencing load shedding indicating that the property was not connected to the national grid.
“These initial findings suggest that electrical factors are unlikely to have caused the fire,” said Ms. Kasumpa.
She has since urged the public to engage only qualified and licensed contractors in installing solar systems to prevent potential risks associated with substandard installations.
By Eva Hatontola
