African Leaders Commit to Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy at Mission 300 Summit

Thirty African Heads of State and Government gathered at the two-day Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where they committed to expanding reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity access across the continent. This major step aims to power economic growth, improve the quality of life, and create jobs, with a collective pledge of over $50 billion in support from Mission 300 partners to enhance energy access.

The summit’s highlight, the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, addresses the critical energy gap in Africa, where over 600 million people currently live without electricity. The declaration represents a key milestone in the Mission 300 initiative, which seeks to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. The Declaration will be submitted to the African Union Summit in February for adoption.

This landmark initiative will also serve as a cornerstone for addressing the growing youth population’s job needs across the continent, creating opportunities for a sustainable future. It sets the stage for future development by focusing on energy access, renewable energy, and job creation.

Twelve countries—Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia—presented detailed National Energy Compacts. These country-specific plans aim to scale up electricity access, boost renewable energy use, and attract private investment, with a focus on affordable power generation, expanding connections, and regional integration. The compacts employ advanced satellite and electronic mapping technologies to determine cost-effective solutions for underserved areas.

Key Announcements and Commitment from Global Partners

At the summit, global partners including the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group announced financial commitments aimed at supporting Mission 300’s objectives:

• African Development Bank Group and World Bank Group: $48 billion in financing for Mission 300 by 2030.
• Agence Française de Développement (AFD): €1 billion for energy access.
• Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB): $1-1.5 billion.
• Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group: $2.65 billion from 2025-2030.
• OPEC Fund: Initial $1 billion, with further financing to follow.

Additionally, the Zafiri investment company was launched by the World Bank Group and African Development Bank to support private sector-led energy solutions, with an initial phase investment of up to $300 million, aimed at bridging the equity gap in Africa’s renewable energy market.

Leadership Commitment to Energy Access

Tanzania’s President H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed her country’s pride in hosting the summit, reaffirming the commitment to provide power and clean cooking solutions that would transform African economies and improve citizens’ lives.

Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, emphasized the urgent need for reforms, including expanding renewable energy shares, improving utility performance, and establishing transparent power purchase agreements.

World Bank President Ajay Banga highlighted that access to electricity is a fundamental human right, crucial for the continent’s development. He stressed that collaboration among governments, businesses, and development banks is essential to address Africa’s energy challenges.

The commitments made during the summit position African countries to address energy gaps through government reforms, financing, and public-private partnerships, delivering tangible benefits to millions of Africans.