The ambitious target set by African heads of state to provide electricity access to 300 million people by 2030 is under intense scrutiny. Over 1,000 participants are expected at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, which will begin in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on January 27, to discuss the feasibility of this goal.
“It’s a tight journey because 2030 is only five years away, and we must deliver actual connections, not just expected ones, to 300 million people by 2030,” said Mr. Daniel Schroth, the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. Schroth emphasized the urgency of the mission during a media briefing in Dar es Salaam.
Mr. Franz Drees-Gross, World Bank Director of Infrastructure for West Africa, called Mission 300 not just an ambitious target but a movement. “We are creating a lasting impact that will power Africa’s growth and enable millions of people to access the essential services that electricity provides,” he said.
The initiative was launched in April 2024 by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to close Africa’s energy access gap. Mr. Wale Shonibare, AfDB’s Director for Energy Financial Solutions, Policy, and Regulation, highlighted that the summit would unveil new initiatives to boost domestic resource mobilization. Shonibare also pointed to the importance of encouraging cross-border trade to mitigate risk and increase financing for energy access.
The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) and The Rockefeller Foundation have already committed $10 million to create a technical assistance facility supporting electricity projects in 11 African nations.
“What sets this initiative apart from previous efforts is the ‘all hands on deck approach,’ with many institutions working together to deliver this ambitious agenda,” explained Sarvesh Suri, the IFC’s Director for Infrastructure in Africa.
Around 12 countries, including Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Côte d’Ivoire, will pledge reforms in five key areas: low-cost power generation, regional energy integration, increased energy access, enabling private investment, and strengthening utilities.
The two-day summit is hosted by the government of Tanzania, the African Union, the AfDB, and the World Bank Group. On the first day, participating countries, including Nigeria, will present their national energy strategies—referred to as compacts—outlining their approaches to achieving universal energy access within five years.
On the second day, Heads of State will endorse the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, setting a unified roadmap for Africa’s progress towards Mission 300’s objectives. President Bola Tinubu will deliver Nigeria’s national statement, reaffirming the country’s commitment to universal energy access and its leadership role in Africa’s energy sector. He will also highlight Nigeria’s ongoing clean energy initiatives and its strategy to drive integrated energy delivery across the continent.
Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Minister of Power Mr. Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser to the President on Energy, and other senior government officials will accompany President Tinubu at the summit.
