The City of Cape Town has fast-tracked its plans to provide enough electricity capacity for the new Green Point Stadium, meaning that many other related projects will also be moved forward - one of the many legacy benefits of hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

The new Green Point stadium, which is to host eight matches during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, will need a secure and stable electricity supply to cope with increased demand over the period.

In order to achieve this, the City of Cape Town’s Electricity Services has fast-tracked its electricity provision plan, and is installing high voltage underground cables in the Central Business District and Green Point areas.

The 132kV cables will power the stadium, provide increased capacity and ensure security of electricity supply to the area.

A new substation is also being built adjacent to the new stadium. It has been designed by the stadium architects and is being constructed together with the stadium.

An added spin-off is that other projects in the electricity provision plan have been moved forward.

According to Les Rencontre, Director: Electricity Services, there is an 18-year plan to build enough high-voltage projects throughout the metro to meet growing demand. Risk assessments are being carried out to determine the highest priorities.

“We fast-tracked the project, which we were due to do in about five years’ time. Now that that is done, and is partially subsidised by national government, it means we will be able to put in place other projects slightly sooner than we would have been able to do,” he said.

The eight-month project to install the underground cables is “on track.” The cable route is 6.5km long and the cables are being installed in road reserves or servitudes. 

Affected roads include Table Bay Boulevard (Oswald Pirow Street to Heerengracht); Heerengracht; Coen Steytler Avenue and Western Boulevard. While the City is making every attempt to avoid inconvenience, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians have been warned to adhere to temporary signage and road markings

“Essentially, it’s a 2010 project, to reinforce the network in the CBD, which will then be able to pick up any load from the stadium and surrounding developments,” Rencontre added.

“The fact that we have been able to implement this sooner means that our overall risk has been reduced, and a group of other projects has moved ahead,” he said.