African leaders commit to transforming energy access with $50bn backing

Thirty African Heads of State and governments have pledged to implement significant reforms aimed at expanding access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity across the continent.

The commitment was formalized through the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, endorsed at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit.

The Declaration addresses Africa’s energy gap, where over 600 million people lack electricity. It forms part of the Mission 300 initiative, which aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.

Global partners, including development banks and private-sector stakeholders, pledged over $50 billion to support these efforts. The Declaration will be presented for adoption at the upcoming African Union Summit in February.

Twelve countries—Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia—unveiled National Energy Compacts with specific targets to enhance electricity access, boost renewable energy use, and attract private capital.

These plans include expanding affordable power generation, regional integration, and clean cooking solutions, leveraging satellite and electronic mapping technologies for cost-effective solutions.

“Tanzania is honored to have hosted such a monumental summit to discuss how we will deliver power and clean cooking solutions to transform lives and economies,” said President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania.

Mission 300 partners emphasized the need for political will, long-term strategies, and collaborative efforts. Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, stated, “Access to electricity is a fundamental human right. To achieve our goal, governments, businesses, philanthropies, and development banks must work together.”

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, stressed reforms to boost renewable energy adoption, utility efficiency, and regulatory transparency.

Key financial commitments include:

  • African Development Bank Group and World Bank Group: $48 billion through 2030
  • Agence Française de Développement (AFD): €1 billion
  • Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB): $1–1.5 billion
  • Islamic Development Bank (IsDB): $2.65 billion (2025–2030)
  • OPEC Fund: $1 billion

In addition, the World Bank Group and African Development Bank Group launched Zafiri, an investment company to support renewable energy projects, with an initial $300 million investment.

The Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, hosted by Tanzania with support from global energy stakeholders, showcased a unified strategy to tackle energy poverty through reforms, funding, and public-private collaboration, promising transformative impacts across Africa.

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