By Abdullahi Lukman
Chief executives of leading minigrid companies operating across Africa have issued a 17-point action plan urging funders, governments and industry players to urgently align capital mobilisation and regulatory reforms with Africa’s electrification targets.
The action plan, released on Tuesday, January 26, 2026, is contained in a Mission 300 Industry Position Paper endorsed by the companies to accelerate minigrid deployment across the continent.
Mission 300, led by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, aims to connect 300 million people to electricity by 2030 and has so far secured Energy Compacts with 29 African governments.
An analysis of the Energy Compacts published alongside the paper shows that governments expect minigrids to serve more than 115 million people, representing about 23 million connections, by the end of the decade.
The industry leaders said the target is achievable but warned that delivering 23 million connections in less than five years would require unprecedented scale, coordination and speed.
They stressed that immediate action is needed on capital deployment, regulatory alignment and institutional execution.
According to the paper, achieving Mission 300 will require between $28 billion and $46 billion in total capital, including more than $10 billion in equity by 2028.
The companies called for improved access to corporate equity and local-currency debt, as well as clear, time-bound capital mobilisation plans from Mission 300 funders.
They also urged governments to standardise policies, technical requirements and key performance indicators to reduce transaction costs and attract investment.
The paper further called for cost-reflective tariffs, removal of import duties and taxes on equipment, and permission for minigrids to operate in commercially viable peri-urban and urban areas.
The CEOs recommended that Mission 300 performance metrics be expanded beyond household connections to include small and medium enterprises and social institutions, arguing that productive demand is essential for economic impact and long-term sustainability.
Companies endorsing the paper currently operate 392 active minigrid sites across Africa, have invested over $300 million, and hold a development pipeline exceeding one gigawatt, requiring up to $8.2 billion in additional capital.
Commenting on the initiative, AMDA Chief Executive Officer Olamide Niyi-Afuye said the paper reflects rare alignment among minigrid operators and highlights the sector’s readiness to scale, provided capital and regulatory systems move at the pace required.
Other industry leaders echoed the call, stressing that Mission 300 is now a test of execution rather than ambition.
With more than 600 million people in Africa still lacking access to electricity and fewer than five years to the 2030 deadline, the paper concludes that incremental approaches will be insufficient, warning that success depends on matching political and financial ambition with swift and coordinated action.