The Central Energy Fund (CEF) and Eskom are in the process of installing thousands of solar lights in South Africa’s major cities. This drive comes in response to the many power cuts which took place across the country in 2008. The CEF and Eskom have prioritised the installation of energy saving light systems, including solar powered lights for outdoor and street lighting in the nine cities where the FIFA world cup 2010 will take place. The green initiative started last year when a plan to install solar powered traffic lights and cameras in Johannesburg and other major cities was unveiled.
The 19th FIFA Football World Cup will be held for the first time in Africa in 2010 across South Africa’s main urban centres: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Bloemfontein, Rustenburg and Pretoria. A great deal of new infrastructure is being built for the event and the FIFA local organising committee has set up a team to ensure that the environment is not unnecessarily damaged in the run up to the world cup.
Eskom is planning to invest in renewable energy to handle the extra pressure that the world cup will place on the power grid. Wind farms, biogas and solar lights are some of the alternative energy sources being considered for main urban centres. FIFA reported that South Africa is scoring low on the public transport front in the run up to the world cup, but the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is assisting South Africa to invest in ‘green’ public transport as an alternative to car rentals for visitors. Bio-diesel, bio-ethanol and fuel cells are some of the GEF’s suggestions for alternative fuel and greater infrastructure for pedestrian and cycling routes is also being considered. Construction of the Gautrain, South Africa’s first rapid rail, which will transport visitors from the Olivia Tambo airport to the centre of Johannesburg and eventually to Pretoria, is already well under way.
During the frequent power outages in 2008, the CEF started testing solar traffic lights to solve the power outage problem which was making people late for work and impacting negatively on the economy. The solar traffic lights will also serve to alleviate congestion problems with the large influx of visitors in 2010. Public and private investors responded positively to the initiative by pouring millions into the project. A series of test confirmed that the traffic lights run on solar power without mishap. The solar lights not only alleviate congestion, but in doing so they reduce petrol consumption. Other green initiatives for the world cup include building stadiums from eco-friendly materials and waste management.
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