Mteto Nyati reappointed as Eskom ushers in ‘Eskom 2.0’ era

Cabinet has granted Eskom chair Mteto Nyati a new three-year mandate to steer the power utility through a planned transition from stabilising electricity generation to what government calls “Eskom 2.0.” The decision was announced at a media briefing by Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.

Continuity as Eskom moves to a new phase

Ramokgopa said government chose continuity for leadership as Eskom moves from its recovery phase into a period that prioritises a more competitive and liberalised energy market. He described the renewal as a choice that would allow Nyati 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.”

From load-shedding recovery to market transformation

The reappointment comes after a sustained improvement in generation performance at Eskom. The utility reported that South Africa had gone about 16 months without load shedding since May 16, 2025, and Eskom recorded a R30.3 billion profit after tax for the year ended March 2026 alongside an Energy Availability Factor of 65.16%.

Ramokgopa framed the change as a structural shift: “We have had 103 years of Eskom 1.0, now we must transition.” He linked the moment to implementation of provisions of the 1998 White Paper on Energy and the introduction of additional market participants.

Mandate and priorities for Eskom 2.0

Under the renewed mandate, Eskom is expected to produce a three-to-five-year roadmap covering a range of areas including generation, transmission expansion, renewable energy, nuclear and gas strategy, customer service, regional expansion and measures to cut losses and improve efficiency.

Ramokgopa also urged greater use of technology, saying artificial intelligence should play a more significant role in operations such as demand and weather forecasting and in 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.”

Financial expectations and pricing

The minister warned that government expects Eskom to become financially sustainable without repeated fiscal support or sustained steep tariff increases. He said:

“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 added:

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

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.

Recognition for the recovery phase

Ramokgopa thanked Nyati for his role during the period that sought to end load shedding, saying:

“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,”

and:

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

The minister said Nyati’s renewed mandate will pivot from overseeing recovery to repositioning Eskom for a changing electricity market.