Equitable Energy Transitions with André de Ruyter: March 28th in 228 Schine

11:00am-12:00pm Light Refreshments

12:00pm-2:00pm Lecture & Discussion

In his lecture, André de Ruyter will discuss innovative business solutions that enable the responsible yet accelerated decarbonization of the energy sector. He will highlight the importance of considering the legitimate concerns of those invested in the coal value chain, while developing alternative pathways to ensure a just transition that prioritizes employment, economic growth, energy security, and environmental protection.

Speaker Biography:

André de Ruyter is a seasoned executive with over three decades of experience in the energy industry. He recently served as the Group Chief Executive of Eskom Holdings, South Africa’s state-owned electricity utility, overseeing operations that provide 95% of the country’s electricity needs and a significant portion of the electricity used across Africa. Prior to Eskom, he held leadership roles at Sasol, a major South African chemicals and energy conglomerate, and Nampak, Africa’s largest packaging company.

With a career spanning various portfolios, including coal, oil, chemical, and gas businesses, André has gained extensive expertise in strategic leadership, sales, manufacturing, finance, legal and regulatory affairs, people management, and socio-economic development. He holds an MBA from Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands and law degrees from the University of South Africa and the University of Pretoria.

André is committed to enabling responsible and accelerated decarbonization of the energy and other industries while addressing the legitimate concerns of those invested in the coal value chain. He played a key role in conceptualizing and negotiating the $8.5 billion SA Just Energy Transition facility announced at COP26 and has advocated for innovative business structures to accelerate the roll-out of renewable energies.