Former Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer lands a new job
Former Eskom chief operating officer Jan Oberholzer has moved to the renewables field, joining Mulilo Energy Holdings as its new chairman and non-executive director.
Mulilo Energy is a South African independent power producer majority-owned by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.
“With an extensive, multifaceted background in the energy sector and a proven track record of leading large and complex organisations and managing multi-billion-dollar projects, Jan is poised to bring invaluable knowledge and expertise to Mulilo’s leadership team,” the group said.
Oberholzer has been in the position since 1 September 2023.
The group said that the former Eskom COO will bring a wealth of experience to the role, and his vision aligns with the company’s mission of bringing large-scale wind, solar and battery storage projects into operation in South Africa.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jan Oberholzer as our new chairman,” said Johnny Cullum, CEO of Mulilo.
“His deep understanding of the South African energy industry, combined with his passion for contributing to South Africa’s growth and just energy transition through the rollout of power generation projects, makes him the ideal leader to guide our company’s strategic direction.
“Under his guidance, we are confident in our ability to accelerate further our contributions to a cleaner, more sustainable future underpinning economic and just growth for all South Africans. Over the next five years, we aim to develop, own and operate 5 GW of wind, solar and battery storage projects. This, certainly, promises a lot for the future.”
Oberholzer said that South Africa needs to invest in long-term and sustainable energy projects, making his move to Mulilo well-suited.
Oberholzer left Eskom in mid-July, ahead of his planned exit at the end of his contract.
He retired from the group at the end of April 2023, but stayed on as a contractor to provide support for the ongoing Koeberg Nuclear Power Station and Kusile Power Station projects.
During his time at Eskom, he had been outspoken about the country’s energy crisis, often painting a frank picture of the country’s power outlook.
Following his retirement, he continued to provide insights and warnings into the reality of the Eskom fleet.
Most recently, he painted a bleak picture for the country’s energy future, stating that South Africa still lacks a plan to prevent load shedding.
Oberholzer’s new job follows his former boss, Andre de Ruyter, also moving on to greener pastures.
The former Eskom chief executive officially joined Yale’s Jackson School of Global Affairs as a senior fellow for the 2023 to 2024 academic year.
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