Powering the next chapter: Kala Ilunga joins ENERTRAG South Africa as Head of Legal

Expressing gratitude to those who’ve helped him grow and develop in his legal career, talented in-house lawyer Kala Ilunga has announced he has this month joined ENERTRAG South Africa as Head of Legal, bringing his renewable-energy expertise to a business seeking to connect clean power with industrial growth and economic opportunity.

“I thank God and the many people who shared their knowledge, opened doors and helped me grow along the way,” shared Ilunga, as he revealed his new role on Friday.

A graduate of the University of Witwatersrand who was admitted as an attorney in early 2022, Ilunga specialises in project finance, project development, and regulatory law. He has advised on complex cross-border legal frameworks across several sectors, with a strong emphasis on renewable energy. His new role as Head of Legal places that experience within a developer pursuing an integrated approach to the energy transition.

For ENERTRAG South Africa, the task extends beyond deploying renewable generation, transmission infrastructure and capital investment. “It is about creating integrated solutions that connect clean energy production with industrial development and economic opportunity,” the energy company said recently.

The business is the South African subsidiary of Germany’s ENERTRAG SE, an independent energy company generating electricity, hydrogen and heat exclusively from renewable sources. The wider group supplies customers ranging from households and commercial businesses to heavy industry, with operations in markets including Germany, France, Ghana, Vietnam and Uruguay.

For Ilunga, who describes himself as passionate about sustainable energy solutions and strengthening legal frameworks in emerging markets, the role brings together experience developed in private practice and in-house energy transactions.

Based in Johannesburg, he joins after two years as Senior Transaction Lawyer at Africa GreenCo. “To my colleagues at GreenCo, thank you for the unforgettable memories,” he shared.

Earlier in his legal career, Ilunga spent more than four years at the firm now known as Deneys, progressing from Candidate Attorney to Legal Associate, and working in the leading African firm's Banking and Finance team.

Past colleagues shared their congratulations on his new role. 

Alongside his appreciation for the colleagues who shaped his journey, Ilunga looked to the future with excitement, in his new in-house leadership role. “Thank you to Enos Ned Banda and the ENERTRAG team for the warm welcome,” he shared. “The best still lies ahead.”