By Abdullahi Lukman
Over 600 million people across Africa are currently living without electricity.
This constituted the major focus at the African Heads of State and Government Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, which concluded on January 28, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The summit focused on tackling Africa’s severe electricity access gap, with the African leaders committing to ambitious reforms aimed at providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to millions across the continent.
As part of the initiative, the leaders signed the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, setting the goal of providing electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
This declaration will be submitted to the African Union Summit in February for adoption.
The commitment is a central part of the Mission 300 initiative, which unites governments, development banks, philanthropies, and the private sector in a collaborative effort to bridge Africa’s energy divide.
The summit also saw Mission 300 partners pledge over $50 billion in funding to accelerate energy access and stimulate economic growth.
This funding aims to expand electricity access, improve utility efficiency, and promote the use of renewable energy.
Twelve countries, including Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, and Tanzania, presented their National Energy Compacts, which outline timebound, data-driven plans to increase access to power, attract private investment, and enhance regional energy integration.
Tanzania’s President, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, expressed pride in hosting the summit, emphasizing the importance of delivering power and clean cooking solutions to transform lives and economies across Africa.
The implementation of the National Energy Compacts will require strong political will, long-term vision, and full support from Mission 300 partners, including increased concessional financing and strategic partnerships with philanthropies and development banks.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, stressed the need for critical reforms to expand renewable energy use, improve utility performance, and ensure transparency in power agreements.
World Bank Group President, Mr. Ajay Banga, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of collaboration across governments, businesses, and international organizations to achieve the summit’s goals.
During the summit, several partners made significant financial commitments to support Mission 300, including the African Development Bank and World Bank Group, which pledged $48 billion through 2030.
Other contributors include Agence Francaise de Development with £1 billion, the Islamic Development Bank with $2.65 billion, and the OPEC Fund with an initial $1 billion commitment.
The World Bank and African Development Bank launched ‘Zafiri’, an investment company aimed at supporting private sector led solutions, such as renewable mini-grids and solar home systems, with an initial investment of up to $300 million.
The Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, hosted by Tanzania, the African Union, the African Development Bank, and the World Bank, demonstrated the collective commitment of African governments and their international partners to address the continent’s energy challenges.
With a combination of government reforms, increased financing, and public-private partnerships, Mission 300 is poised to transform Africa’s energy landscape and deliver tangible benefits to millions.
