Power to the people

Mon 20th February

In the seven years my family and I have been visiting South Africa, before moving here in December 2005, I became fascinated by how this country was struggling to become a first world country and succeeding despite itself.

On one of our frequent trips here, in April 2004, we drove from Durban to Cape Town (the long way round). We set off early and by dusk had reached the outskirts of a town called Graaff Reinet. We drove through a spectacular electric storm and it was 7pm and dark by the time we hit the town centre.

The town and surrounding villages were without electricity for the next 18 hours. We never found out the reason for the power cut but the impact was nothing less than revelatory.

I am concerned about our food in the freezer, it’s Sunday and FA Cup day – another day for braais and warm beer

Holidaying here in Cape Town in the first week of November 2005 we had a similar experience. There was a city-wide power cut caused by a failure in the nuclear powered generator up coast. Our experience in Graaff Reinet was multiplied. This outage was on a very hot Friday afternoon. The radio stations were unable to broadcast so there was confusion as to what the problem was and how long it would take to resolve. The obvious occurred: traffic lights stopped working, cars were gridlocked, the mobile phone network was overloaded and stores closed as most did not have back-up generators or emergency lighting. Six hours later all was back to normal and again we were struck by the patience and optimism of the city.

And last Saturday night we were awoken at frequent intervals by our electrical appliances being tripped over a three-hour period. At 6am I realised we had no power. I tuned to the local news station and listened for an hour. They were discussing alternative energies, chicken poo, cow dung, compressed air to power vehicles and of course solar and wind. No mention of a power cut so I check the fuse box - nothing to worry about there. The 7am news, and I rush back to the living room to listen. "Cape Town and the Western Cape are without power this morning." Headlines, but without concern. I am concerned about our food in the freezer, it's Sunday and FA Cup day - another day for braais and warm beer.

By noon the power was back on. We are told by the energy suppliers that this was caused by a heavy mist up country (no leaves on the tracks here, we have desert conditions). According to the news, the reality is that the nuclear plant will take many months to repair and will take years to be back to full power. The power cuts were as far reaching as Johannesburg.

Meanwhile, last weekend, the national Saturday newspaper, The Weekend Argus, announces a breakthrough in the design of solar energy by a team of scientists led by Professor Vivian Alberts from the University of Johannesburg. This breakthrough means that complete homes can now be self sufficient in energy at low installation costs. The university department has already been given a R500m (£47m) investment by a German manufacturer who will have manufactured 500,000 of the new design panels by year end.

If Bouygues can make the Gauteng rapid rail link in Johannesburg work under a PPP proposal, surely UK plc can do more?

South Africa has tenacity and determination, it has a wealth of natural resources especially sunlight and wind.

Meanwhile, I have recently applied for the briefing documents to supply professional services for the design and construct of a new ‘iconic stadium' for Durban as part of the host nation requirements for the World Cup 2010. The technological revolution required by this country to host this event needs to be undertaken, they have the enterprise, the will and the attitude to do it. What they do not have, necessarily, is the international experience we have in the UK. Will this new stadium be powered by solar and wind to avoid the embarrassment of failed broadcasts in 2010 to the rest of the world?

South Africa needs the power, in every sense, to overcome supply and service difficulties. This breakthrough by Professor Alberts might be the key to the success of 2010. More importantly, it could be the key to South Africa emerging as a true first world country and creating an opportunity for the people housed in informal settlements, which I will discuss next time.

UK experience in Olympics, urban regeneration, low cost housing and solar and wind power could be of great assistance to the emerging nation of South Africa. The country has unwittingly failed to comply with EEC requirements on education funding and had grant aid withdrawn. Perhaps UK expertise has a real opportunity here to make a difference and change design and standards of living for the rest of the third world from what we are learning here.

If Bouygues can make the Gauteng rapid rail link in Johannesburg work under a PPP proposal, surely UK plc can do more?