No Blackouts During 2010 World Cup
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South Africa’s World Cup organisers are planning special command centres to ensure no electricity blackouts during the 2010 World Cup finals.
The country has struggled with power cuts over the last years as consumption has risen far faster than generating capacity and fears of energy disruptions during the World Cup have led to emergency plans being put in place, officials said.
South African state power firm Eskom said the centres were designed to ensure no chances would be taken on electricity supplies for the event.
"The command centres are essentially one-stop electricity stops where the entire process of keeping the lights on for the 2010 World Cup will be co-ordinated," Eskom’s 2010 World Cup project managing director Johnny Dladla said.
"Central co-ordination of information will mean quick decisions can be made in the case of a crisis."
But Eskom, which produces around 95 percent of South Africa's electricity, has already said it was also essential that the country’s population learn to save electricity.
In July, Eskom Chief Executive Officer Jacob Maroga told Reuters in an interview in London that the utility’s key target was to make they have enough spare capacity in the system for the 2010 World Cup.
Local soccer personalities are to be used in a marketing campaign as "electricity champions" to encourage reduced usage.
