The African Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, garnered renewed commitments toward expanding electricity access across the continent. The summit centered around the ambitious Mission 300 initiative, bringing together global financial institutions, government leaders, and private sector players to accelerate electricity access for 300 million people across Africa by 2030.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), highlighted Africa’s progress in electrification, stating that electricity access had increased significantly, however, more can still be done. “Working with all our partners, significant progress has been made in expanding access to electricity in Africa. The share of the population with access to electricity in Africa has significantly moved from 39% in 2015 to 52% in 2024,” he said.
He further stressed the urgency of accelerating electrification, he noted that strategic reforms are imperative, “Critical reforms will be needed to expand the share of renewables, improve utility performance, ensure transparency in licensing and power purchase agreements, and establish predictable tariff regimes that reflect production costs.”
World Bank Group President Ajay Banga echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the fundamental role of electricity in economic and social development. “Access to electricity is a fundamental human right. Without it, countries and people cannot thrive,” he said. “Our mission to provide electricity to half of the 600 million people in Africa without access is a critical first step. He stressed the need for collaboration and reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to derisking private investments in the sector. “To succeed, we must embrace a simple truth: no one can do it alone. Governments, businesses, philanthropies, and development banks each have a role—and only through collaboration can we achieve our goal.”
During the summit, twelve African nations—Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia—outlined their National Energy Compacts, setting ambitious targets for expanding renewable energy and attracting private-sector investments. In support of these goals, the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group committed to allocating $48 billion in financing for Mission 300 through 2030, with the flexibility to adjust based on implementation needs.
A major highlight was the launch of Zafiri, an investment platform designed to support private-sector-driven energy solutions such as renewable mini-grids and solar home systems. Zafiri anchor partners pledged an initial $300 million, with a long-term goal of mobilizing $1 billion to bridge Africa’s persistent energy equity gap.
Francesco La Camera, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), praised the initiative, describing the summit as “center-staging a bold initiative with transformative potential, aiming to connect 300 million people across Africa to electricity by 2030.”
He emphasized the importance of strengthening Africa’s power interconnections and highlighted IRENA’s long-standing support for the African Continental Masterplan (CMP), which aims to create an integrated electricity market. Looking ahead, he noted that the next phase of CMP will focus on streamlining procurement and planning to accelerate project implementation and attract private investment.
The African Energy Summit 2025 reinforced a shared commitment to fast-tracking energy access across the continent. With strong financial backing and strategic partnerships, the Mission 300 initiative is gaining momentum, bringing Africa closer to a future of universal electricity access.
