Andre de Ruyter’s new job

Andre de Ruyter, the former CEO of Eskom, has embarked on a new chapter in his career, transitioning to the global arena of climate action and sustainable development.
De Ruyter has been appointed as a board member at Verra, the world’s leading standards setter for climate action and sustainable development.
This appointment marks a significant shift for de Ruyter, who departed Eskom in February 2023 under a cloud of controversy after exposing deeply entrenched corruption within the organisation.
Verra, a non-profit organisation, plays a pivotal role in the environmental and social markets by managing high-integrity standards programs for climate action.
This includes the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program, which stands as one of the world’s leading greenhouse gas crediting programs.
De Ruyter’s wealth of experience in the energy sector, spanning over three decades, makes him an invaluable asset to Verra’s board.
His expertise will undoubtedly contribute to the organisation’s mission of driving impactful climate action, said the organisation.
During his tenure as Eskom’s CEO, de Ruyter began the development of a comprehensive corporate strategy aimed at accelerating the decarbonisation of the utility, recognised as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases on the African continent.
This strategy involved a Just Energy Transition (JET) plan, which included creating a dedicated JET office to facilitate the repurposing and repowering of decommissioned power stations.
This initiative demonstrated de Ruyter’s commitment to a sustainable energy future for South Africa.
De Ruyter’s dedication to addressing climate change extends beyond his efforts at Eskom.
Following his departure from the utility, he served as a visiting senior fellow at Yale University’s prestigious Jackson School of Global Affairs.
During his time at Yale, he lectured on critical topics such as the just energy transition and climate finance, sharing his knowledge and insights with students and faculty.
His research focused on exploring climate financing options and carbon market reform, particularly as they apply to developing countries, highlighting his commitment to global climate action.
De Ruyter’s exit from Eskom was unfortunately marred by controversy.
In a bombshell interview, he revealed the shocking extent of corruption and maladministration plaguing the organisation.
He estimated that Eskom was haemorrhaging approximately R1 billion monthly due to these illicit activities.
He implicated high-level politicians and organised criminal syndicates in the systematic looting of Eskom, a revelation that ultimately led him to leave South Africa for his own safety.
While his allegations are currently under investigation, Eskom’s current board maintains that they have found no evidence of organised crime within the utility.
“Instead, we have found evidence of corrupt individuals linked to external contractors. We have moved away from making generalisations about our staff as useless or corrupt,” said Eskom chairman Mteto Nyati in a recent interview.
Despite the challenges and adversity he faced at Eskom, de Ruyter’s commitment to South Africa remains.
“South Africa is the place I want to return to when the situation warrants it. That is my longer-term plan,” he said.
In the meantime, he continues to contribute meaningfully to the global fight against climate change through his work at Verra and his ongoing academic pursuits.