Mteto Nyati stays as Eskom shifts from load shedding to ‘Eskom 2.0’ - IOL

Eskom board chair Mteto Nyati has been handed a new three-year mandate to lead the power utility through its next phase of reform.

Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has announced that Cabinet has renewed Mteto Nyati’s mandate as Eskom board chairperson for another three years, tasking him with steering the power utility through what government is calling its “Eskom 2.0” era.

Ramokgopa announced the decision during a media briefing on Friday, saying government had opted for continuity as Eskom shifts from stabilising electricity generation to navigating a more competitive and liberalised energy market.

“I’m happy to say that Cabinet has taken a decision that Dr Mtetunyati is best suited to continue on that journey, that we give him a three-year mandate to be able to deliver on this, working with his team of board members and the competent, reliable and experienced team of technocrats led by the group CEO, Mr Dan Marokane,” Ramokgopa said.

The reappointment comes as Eskom enters a new phase following an improvement in generation performance and a prolonged period without load shedding. Eskom reported earlier this month that South Africa had gone about 16 months without load shedding since May 16, 2025.

Ramokgopa said the utility could no longer operate as it had during its first century, particularly as electricity-sector reforms introduce more private generators and other market participants.

“We have had 103 years of Eskom 1.0, now we must transition,” he said.

“We have reached a point of inflection as a result of a multiplicity of factors, including the fact that now we are bringing to life some of the provisions of the 1998 White Paper on Energy, that being the introduction of other actors, the liberalisation of the South African energy market.”

Under the new mandate, Eskom is expected to develop a three-to-five-year roadmap covering its generation fleet, transmission expansion, renewable energy, nuclear and gas strategy, customer service, regional expansion and measures to cut losses and improve efficiency.

Ramokgopa also said artificial intelligence should play a significantly greater role in the utility’s operations, including in demand and weather forecasting and reducing technical losses.

“Eskom 1.0, artificial intelligence will not be a big part. But Eskom 2.0, artificial intelligence is going to be a significant part of the work that we’re doing,” he said.

The minister also delivered a warning on Eskom’s finances, saying government expects the utility to become financially sustainable without repeatedly turning to the fiscus or relying on steep tariff increases.

“The shareholder expects a financially sustainable Eskom that can fulfil its obligations without treating repeated fiscal support or sustained double-digit tariff increases as its business model,” Ramokgopa said.

“So there will not be any bailouts from government. There will not be double-digit electricity tariff increases in this country.”

The commitment comes as government considers changes to electricity pricing. The Department of Electricity and Energy has extended public comments on its revised Electricity Pricing Policy and Electricity Sector Market Transformation Position Paper until 28 October 2026.

Ramokgopa credited Nyati with helping oversee Eskom during one of the utility’s most difficult periods, including the implementation of measures aimed at ending load shedding.

“When a call was made to you to come and serve the Eskom board and lead the charge on resolving load shedding… you accepted that the country calls, it’s country duty, you raised your hand,” Ramokgopa said.

“We say thank you very much for having contributed to taking us out of load shedding.”

Eskom reported a R30.3 billion profit after tax for the financial year ended March 2026, its second consecutive profitable year, while its Energy Availability Factor improved to 65.16%.

Ramokgopa said Nyati’s renewed mandate would now shift from Eskom’s recovery to repositioning the utility for the changing electricity market.

“We have come out of a period of darkness, we have reached a point of inflection, and we are entering a new terrain,” he said.

“My message to you is that you are still wanted.”