Mission 300 Energy Summit: A watershed moment for Africa’s energy future

The Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, recently held in Dar es Salaam, marks a turning point in Africa’s approach to its energy crisis. Instead of fragmented national efforts, leaders, financiers, and private sector stakeholders are now moving toward a coordinated, continent-wide strategy. The summit emphasized the urgency of achieving universal electricity access, with strong financial commitments and political will backing the ambitious goal.
Ethiopia’s President Taye Astike Selassie Amde highlighted that, despite 54% electricity access, 60 million Ethiopians remain without power. His government aims for universal access by 2028, requiring electrification of 3.4 million households annually. Benin’s Vice President Miriam Chabi Talata shared her country’s energy journey, which has led to 50% self-sufficiency by reducing dependency on Ghana and Nigeria through solar, thermal, and hydroelectric power.
Ghana’s President John Mahama stressed the importance of governance in implementing reforms, particularly in state-owned utilities. Private sector leaders echoed the need for urgent reforms, particularly in electricity transmission and distribution. IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop pointed out that the private sector is underutilized in Africa’s energy financing. TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné and AMEA Power Chairman Hussain Al Nowais emphasized that while renewable energy is expanding, infrastructure limitations—especially in electricity transport—remain major obstacles.
The summit saw unprecedented financial pledges. The World Bank and African Development Bank committed $48 billion, aiming to attract more investment from other stakeholders. World Bank President Ajay Banga emphasized that governments, businesses, and development banks must work together to address Africa’s energy needs.
To boost private investment, the IFC launched a $1 billion fund for companies focusing on decentralized renewable energy and off-grid solar solutions. However, investors stressed the need for sovereign guarantees and local currency financing to reduce risks.
International contributions reinforced Africa’s energy drive. French President Emmanuel Macron pledged €1 billion for Africa’s electricity access and announced €10 million for the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA). Denmark, the UK, and Spain increased their contributions to SEFA by a combined €26.53 million.
The Dar es Salaam Declaration, a key outcome of the summit, commits governments to reforms in utility management, procurement transparency, and regulatory support for private investors. Development partners pledged increased concessional resources and technical support to accelerate progress.
The Declaration will be presented at the African Union Summit in 2025 for continent-wide adoption. Meanwhile, 12 African countries—including Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia—will begin implementing energy reforms, serving as test cases for the Mission 300 approach.
Beyond electricity, the summit addressed Africa’s clean cooking crisis, which causes 600,000 deaths annually and economic losses of $800 billion. Innovative solutions, such as pay-as-you-cook LPG models and efficient biomass stoves, were showcased. Tanzania, the host nation, is targeting 80% clean cooking adoption by 2034.
Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan underscored that the summit is about more than just energy; it’s about empowering families, lifting people out of poverty, and creating opportunities for youth. The next 12-18 months will be crucial in proving whether this new approach can succeed where past efforts have failed.