Africa targets electrifying 300 million people by 2030, says AfDB
By Kunle Sanni
Daniel Schroth, Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the African Development Bank (AfDB), has announced Africa’s goal to provide electricity to 300 million people by 2030.
Acknowledging the challenge, Schroth stated, “It’s a tight journey because 2030 is only five years away, and we need to deliver actual connections to 300 million people by then.”
The ambitious target will be the focal point of the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, commencing January 27 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The summit will host over 1,000 participants, including policymakers, energy experts, and investors, to discuss strategies for achieving universal energy access across the continent.
President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to attend the summit, where he will deliver a national statement reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to energy access and its leadership in Africa’s energy sector. He will highlight Nigeria’s clean energy initiatives and strategies for integrated energy delivery.
President Tinubu will be accompanied by a delegation, including Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, and Special Adviser on Energy Olu Verheijen.
The Mission 300 initiative, launched jointly by the ADB and the World Bank in April 2024, aims to address Africa’s energy gap, which currently leaves hundreds of millions without electricity.
Franz Drees-Gross, the World Bank’s Director of Infrastructure for West Africa, described it as more than a target: “This is a movement to create lasting impact, powering Africa’s growth and enabling millions to access essential services electricity provides.”
The summit will emphasize resource mobilization and policy reforms to support the mission. Wale Shonibare, ADB’s Director for Energy Financial Solutions, revealed plans to introduce new initiatives to enhance domestic resource mobilization and cross-border energy trade.
The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) and The Rockefeller Foundation have pledged $10 million to establish a technical assistance facility for electricity projects in 11 African countries.
Sarvesh Suri, Director for Infrastructure in Africa at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), noted, “What sets this initiative apart is its collaborative approach, bringing together multiple institutions to deliver on this ambitious agenda.”
Twelve countries, including Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Côte d’Ivoire, will present commitments to energy reforms in five key areas: low-cost power generation, regional energy integration, increased access, private sector investment, and utility strengthening.
The summit will conclude with African Heads of State endorsing the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, a unified roadmap to achieve the Mission 300 goals.
With just five years remaining, the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit represents a pivotal moment in the continent’s energy transformation journey.
