By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Thirty Heads of State and government representatives convened at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania committing to a series of reforms aimed at expanding access to reliable and affordable electricity across the continent.
The summit culminated in the endorsement of the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, marking a critical milestone in efforts to bridge the energy gap, which currently leaves over 600 million people in Africa without electricity.
The Declaration aligns with the Mission 300 initiative, which seeks to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, leveraging a coalition of governments, development banks, philanthropies, and the private sector. Partners at the summit pledged over $50 billion to support energy access initiatives.
H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the Republic of Tanzania, remarked, “Tanzania is honoured to have hosted such a monumental summit to discuss how, as leaders, we will be able to deliver on our promise to our citizens to provide power and clean cooking solutions that will transform lives and economies.”
The summit showcased detailed National Energy Compacts from twelve African nations namely Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia.
These plans outline specific targets for increasing electricity access, promoting renewable energy, and attracting private investment, all aimed at enhancing utility efficiency and improving clean cooking solutions.
Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, emphasized the urgency of the challenge calling for collaboration in the mission to bring electricity to millions.
“Access to electricity is a fundamental human right. Without it, countries and people cannot thrive,” he stated.
Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, echoed this sentiment, urging for decisive action and critical reforms to accelerate electrification.
The commitments announced during the summit also included significant financial support from various partners, including $48 billion from the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group, as well as contributions from the Agence Française de Développement, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank Group, and the OPEC Fund.
The summit’s outcomes and financial pledges signal a robust commitment to transforming Africa’s energy landscape, ultimately supporting economic development and improving the quality of life for millions.
The Declaration will now proceed to the African Union Summit in February for further adoption.