April 1, 2026
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Recent electricity disruptions affecting parts of Brunei-Muara and Belait districts were caused by damage to infrastructure linked to cable theft and attempted tampering, the Department of Electrical Services (DES) said.
In a statement, DES said investigations into the outage on March 19 found that underground cables and key equipment had been severely damaged due to theft-related activities, weakening the power supply system and resulting in prolonged disruptions to consumers.
The department added that a similar incident occurred on March 25, but swift action following early detection helped stabilise the situation and restore supply in affected areas.
DES warned that such illegal acts not only compromise the reliability of the national electricity network but also pose serious safety risks, including injury or death.
The department urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities, stressing that cable theft is a serious offence under Sections 380B and 427B of the Penal Code, Chapter 22. Offenders face penalties of between three and 10 years’ imprisonment and whipping of four to 12 strokes.
DES said it will continue to work closely with the Royal Brunei Police Force and other agencies to curb such activities and safeguard the country’s electricity supply. Members of the public can report incidents via Talian Darussalam 123 or the police hotline 993.