Jacob Maroga has been chosen as Eskom's new chief executive, the power utility's board said last week.

Jacob Maroga has been chosen as Eskom's new chief executive, the power utility's board said last week.

Eskom's chairman Valli Moosa said: "The board congratulates Jacob Maroga and wishes him every success in the years ahead."

Maroga will take over from Thulani Gcabashe, whose term ends this month. Maroga will start work on May 1.

Moosa said that Gcabashe will remain at Eskom for the next 18 months.

He will lead a project to leverage the economic benefits from the utility's capital expansion programme.

Gcabashe will also be involved in setting up a local nuclear power industry based on the installation of up to 20000 megawatts of capacity.

Moosa said: "Over the next 20 years Eskom will embark on an investment programme that will see the utility doubling its size in terms of generation capacity."

Eskom is set to spend about R150billion over the next five years to upgrade the electricity infrastructure of South Africa. - Sapa