In a landmark move to address Africa’s energy crisis, African leaders have pledged to provide electricity to 300 million people across the continent by 2030. This commitment was formalized in the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, adopted during the Africa Energy Summit in Tanzania on Monday.
The summit, held under the theme ‘Powering Africa for Reliable, Affordable, Inclusive, Sustainable, and Clean Energy for All’, brought together heads of state and key stakeholders from across the continent to discuss strategies for tackling Africa’s persistent electricity deficit. The initiative, known as Mission 300, was first launched in April by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to accelerate electrification efforts.
At the summit, AfDB Secretary-General Vincent Nmehielle emphasized the urgent need for action. To support the initiative, the AfDB has pledged $18.2 billion, while the World Bank has committed $22 billion. Additional commitments include $2.65 billion from the Islamic Development Bank, $1.5 billion from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and $1 billion from the OPEC Fund.
The plan involves a combination of expanding existing national grids and deploying renewable energy solutions, such as wind and solar mini-grids. According to projections, half of the new electricity connections will be made through national grids, with the other half relying on renewable energy sources.
Several countries, including Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, and Tanzania, have pledged to reform their electricity sectors, increase national electrification targets, and integrate more renewable energy. World Bank President Ajay Banga emphasized that financial support will depend on the implementation of necessary regulatory and policy reforms. “The World Bank will pay countries as part of our support only when they make the changes,” he stated.
Currently, 600 million Africans—nearly half of the continent’s population—still lack reliable access to electricity, contributing to more than 80% of the global electricity access gap. Countries like Burundi and South Sudan remain among the least electrified, according to 2022 data from the UN Sustainable Development Group.
