World Cup will have power and back-up plans

FARANAAZ PARKER Oct 23 2009 11:52

Eskom unveiled its plans for supplying power to the 2010 World Cup at a seminar hosted by the South African National Energy Association this week.

Sanjay Bhana, project manager of the 2010MW Project, said simulations are being planned to test emergency preparedness and collaborative actions are in place to ensure reliability of supply.

Bhana said Eskom is confident of its ability to deliver on its mandate, which is to ensure reliable electricity supplies to World Cup installations including stadiums, broadcasting centres, base camps, training venues and fan parks.

According to Eskom's estimates, which are based on electricity consumption figures for the last World Cup held in Germany, 13 gigawatt hours -- equivalent to about 0,08% of Eskom’s total annual sales -- will be used in the four-week period over which the tournament will be held.

But because of the way the responsibilities are divided, Eskom's burden is not as heavy as it may at first seem.

Pitch lighting and electrification of the stadium will be supplied from the grid and provided by the host city, which will also provide emergency back-up generators. Broadcast power, which ensures uninterrupted television broadcasting, will be handled by the 2010 organising committee and provided by generators.

Providing power supply to the area immediately surrounding the stadium, including ticketing, hospitality and accreditation offices, will be the responsibility of the host city and the 2010 organising committee, and run off diesel generators.

Bhana said although match times are expected to influence load, they are all "just a bit off peak" and are not expected to cause problems.

For the World Cup period, Eskom also plans to:

Minimise electricity exports within contractual limits;

Enlist the aid of the Southern African Power Pool members to maximise the amount of power in the region;

Secure pledges from large industrial customers to decrease their load during critical times; and

Shift maintenance operations for large customers.

More on the energy crunch

In Singing keeps the dark out Karabo Keepile visits a family in a shack in Diepsloot to find out what it's like to have no electricity.

Watch the slideshow Living with the lights off

Read House calls with pliers, where Faranaaz Parker meets up with Levy Nhlapo, a self-described 'volunteer technician'.

Yolandi Groenewald puts her house on a low-kilowatt diet in Losing Ks in Suburbia.

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