Speaking to reporters on Thursday, ADM's technical director, Antonio Loureiro, said no less than 47 transformers had been stolen from the runway illumination systems at Beira, Quelimane and Nampula airports.
The largest thefts were in Beira where, on 28 and 29 May, 34 transformers were stolen. In Nampula, the thieves struck on three consecutive days - 2, 3 and 4 June - stealing seven transformers.
In Quelimane, six transformers were stolen on 3 June.
The worst problems were caused in Nampula where, for two consecutive nights, the runway was plunged into darkness. On each occasion, the airport staff only realised the transformers had been stolen as they made routine checks prior to the arrival of aircraft.
On both nights, alternative lighting was rigged up for the landing of three planes. Loureiro considered one of these landings, when the runway was only illuminated by the headlights of several vehicles, as highly irregular Loureiro claimed that "immediate measures" were taken to step up security in the airports. He said ADM was working with the police to improve security.
But last Saturday, after the first Nampula theft, the police pledged to mount a 24 hour patrol of the runway area. This did not stop thieves striking the following night and endangering the lives of dozens of passengers on two flights.
Loureiro said "when the first cases happened we had to notify the police about what was going on. Things became strange when, at the same places, with a police presence, the thefts of these systems continues".
The airport transformers do not exist on the Mozambican market and have to be imported. The loss of so many transformers in a short space of time has cost the company about 40,000 US dollars.
The transformers have no use other than runway lighting.
Loureiro could only imagine that the thieves stole them because they contain copper. Presumably they intended to sell the metal to scrap merchants.
SOURCE: AIM
