Power Promise Keeps SA On Edge of Seat

IF THERE is one thing that can turn the World Cup euphoria that has engulfed SA into despair, it is power interruption.

If that happens, no number of explanations will restore the reputational damage to SA. Valid questions have been asked about the country's ability to ensure security of electricity supply. Since the 2008 power problems, Eskom has been on the receiving end of public ridicule. Think "Eishkom" and those dinner-table mutterings about a bunch of incompetents who have no idea what they are doing. If Eskom get it wrong in the next month, they will have earned whatever expletives come their way.

The nervousness about our ability to ensure reliable power is neither alarmist nor misplaced. Just over two years ago, the country was flirting with nationwide blackouts, forcing major industries such as mining to cut back on production.

Secondly, the World Cup will be held in winter, a time when SA's power consumption spikes, straining the power grid.

Eskom has said that the reserve margin or reserve capacity, which is the difference between available capacity and peak demand - is at relatively low levels. So the country needs an assurance that everything will be fine.

Eskom has said that it has its ducks in a row. It says its preparations for the soccer tournament included the identification of potential risks and, to address this, it has been in close liaison with key government departments, municipalities and its neighbouring countries who are part of the Southern African Power Pool community.

A 2010 Electricity Supply Industry Forum has been established. Members of the forum include Eskom, municipalities, the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa), the Department of Energy, the 2010 local organising committee, EDI Holdings and the Treasury. Eskom says infrastructure that has been put in place as part of the collaborative initiative was tested between February and this month. "Results are overwhelmingly positive and any shortcomings or oversights are immediately addressed," Eskom said.

In addition to that, there are regional task teams for all World Cup host cities. These teams focus on, among other things, network capacity requirements, maintenance scheduling, equipment reliability, risk management and integrity improvement.

On Monday, Eskom took a group of journalists on a tour of its national control centre, a hub that matches electricity demand with supply. This nerve centre ensures that enough power is being generated to meet demand.

When demand exceeds supply, it is people at this centre who look for other sources of electricity, such as peaking power stations, which are only run when there is high demand for electricity.

Detailing its readiness for the World Cup, Erica Johnson, Eskom chief officer for customer network business, this week gave the impression of an entity that has done extensive preparatory work, complete with back-up plans.

Eskom has come in for glowing praise from Korean Electricity Power Corporation, the electricity utility that hosted the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan. In an audit report that looked at Eskom's readiness for the event, the corporation says Eskom is ready to provide reliable power supply to key facilities during the soccer spectacle. "Eskom's readiness and preparedness in reliable power supply for 2010 World Cup was admirable and comparable to all countries that have held this prestigious event."

Johnson says Eskom anticipates an increase of 275MW in electricity consumption during the tournament. This, she says, is based on studies conducted in Germany at the last World Cup.

Eskom says it expects peak demand for electricity during winter to be 37240 MW. It says its generation capacity of 42000MW, which includes imports mainly from Mozambique's Cahora Bassa Dam, will be sufficient to power the Cup.

Eskom can import as much as 1500MW from Mozambique. It can also import another 150MW from the Democratic Republic of Congo. "If required, we can run our open- cycle gas turbines ."

Eskom says load forecasts assume further recovery in the economy. During the summer there are enough generation resources to meet demand.

Eskom says it will conduct only critical maintenance on its generation plants and infrastructure. Johnson says there are enough coal stockpiles at Eskom's power stations and adequate on- and off-site storage of diesel for gas turbines.