Deputy Chairperson, hon Ntwanambi and hon members, my office has not had any discussions with the National Stakeholder Advisory Council on Electricity and the National Electricity Response Team, Nert, regarding a contingency plan for high electricity demand during the 2010 Fifa Soccer 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: replacing incandescent lighting with energy-saving lights, which has been completed in most host cities' high-density areas and has reduced demand by at least 700 megawatts; supplying solar water heaters to reduce the electricity load relating to water heating, as part of a 1 million solar water heating programme; and 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 all stadiums will run on diesel generators. The electricity grid will serve as backup. 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 Fifa Soccer 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. Thank you, Deputy Chairperson.