Question No. 1
Ms N D Ntwanambi (ANC-WC) to ask the deputy president:
(1) Whether his office had any discussions with the National Stakeholder Advisory Council on electricity and or the National electricity emergency response team regarding contingency plans for high electricity demand during the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup tournament; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) to what extent does such a plan affect electricity supply and managing demand from the townships and (b) what elements of the plan seek to assist poor households in case of electricity cuts;
(2) Whether he will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
Honourable Ntwanambi, my office has not had any discussions with the National Stakeholder Advisory Council on Electricity (advisory council) and the national electricity response team (NERT) regarding a contingency plan for high electricity demand during the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament. Certainly in the case of the advisory council, this matter has not arisen as the structure is mainly preoccupied with policy issues.
However, through NERT, government has put in place plans to promote energy efficiency and manage consumption demand. These include:
a. Replacing incandescent lighting with energy saving lights which has been completed in most host cities’ high density areas. This has reduced demand by at least 700 Mega Watts.
b. Supplying solar water heaters to reduce the electricity load relating to water heating as part of a 1 million solar water heating programme.
c. An investment of R1.2 billion by government over the past three years in a programme to rehabilitate the host cities’ electricity distribution infrastructure. Furthermore, members should note that:
i. All stadiums will run on diesel generators. The electricity grid will serve as backup.
ii. Regulations to regulate or manage the price of liquefied petroleum gas have been finalised. These aim to assist households to meet their thermal needs of space heating and cooking.
We are confident that these instruments, among others, will enable the country to manage electricity consumption demand during the peak winter period that coincides with the hosting of the 2010 world cup. Eskom has also assured us that there will be no power interruptions during the world cup. Coal stocks have been replenished and the summer maintenance programme is running smoothly.
Issued by: The Presidency
11 March 2010
