The South African government is advertising for a new head of the Independent Power Producers Office (IPPO), a position that has been held by Bernard Magoro since April 2020.

In an advert published over the weekend, it was indicated that a new IPPO head would be given a five-year fixed-term contract and be based in Centurion, Tshwane.

It added that suitable candidates must submit a detailed CV and accompanying motivation letter via the Development Bank of Southern Africa’s (DBSA’s) recruitment website (https://dbsa.erecruit.co/candidateapp/Jobs/Browse.aspx) by midday on March 30. 

The IPPO was set up by the DBSA, the National Treasury and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to implement the country’s public IPP procurement programme.

It has overseen the public procurement of more than 7 300 MW of renewable-energy capacity since 2011, and the entity has also been designated to oversee the pilot Independent Transmission Project procurement programme, to be launched later this year.

In the advert, it is stated that the head of the IPPO will report to the DMRE’s director-general, with the CEO of DBSA contributing support to the IPPO as agreed in the memorandum of understanding.

The DMRE is currently being split into the Department of Electricity and Energy and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.

The new head, it adds, will be responsible for leading the IPPO in the achievement of all strategic, tactical and operational objectives associated with public IPP procurement.

Additionally, the head will be responsible for strategic direction, stakeholder management, financial management, ethical governance, operational and people management, as well as the developmental impact of the IPPO.

The minimum requirements for candidates have been listed as: a degree with related majors in engineering and/or finance, plus a relevant postgraduate degree; and 12 years’ relevant experience in a medium to large enterprise in the energy management sector.

The required experience must include five years as an executive of a medium-size enterprise, or five years as a division executive of a large-size enterprise, the advert states.