Chilean electricity company attributes the blackout to an «unwanted activation» of its protection systems

The Colombian company Isa, Isa Interchile controller, said Wednesday that Tuesday’s blackout that left 98 % of that country without light was caused by a problem in its transmission lines between Vallenar and Coquimbo that caused «the unwanted activation of its protection schemes.»

Isa Interchile pointed out in a statement that on Tuesday «at 3:16 pm, there was an event that affected the double circuit electric transmission line, New Maitencillo – New sugar bread that operates at 500,000 volts, between Vallenar and Coquimbo, at which time it transported the order of 1,800 MW in total.»

«This event triggered the unavailability of the electrical service that affected the country,» the company said in a statement.

EFE