An Eskom project team is working with the metro and municipal electricity departments to ensure the reliability of electricity supply to the stadiums, broadcasting centres, base camps and venues for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

Our process is comprehensive: besides checking equipment and facilities, we are also preparing simulation exercises to test readiness across all operations to prepare our teams for possible emergencies. Municipalities, through the AMEU – their representative body – are co-operating with this planning and discussions are underway to form joint 2010 energy task teams with Eskom.

Eskom is also investigating the creation of dedicated 2010 electricity command centres to oversee regional delivery of power. We are working closely with the other members of team South Africa – government at national, regional and local levels, as well as representatives from the municipal and metro electricity departments; host cities; FIFA; the local organising committee; tourism authorities and the information and communication industries – to meet the demands of the main event and related events during the build-up.

FIFA and South Africa have stated that the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ will be an African celebration. As such, the event has received the support of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), who will contribute to powering 2010. The details of the SAPP contributions for the event are currently in discussion.

Eskom is concentrating its efforts on a combination of existing and new 2010-specific initiatives to improve the national power supply capacity. We are also continually reviewing the status of vital transmission and distribution networks across the country.

A successful 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ also depends on a concerted national effort to use electricity more efficiently.