African Nations Pledge to Power 300 Million Homes by 2030

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Several African nations committed Monday to open their electricity sectors to investors, aiming to provide power to 300 million people currently without access by 2030. The initiative, dubbed “Mission 300,” was launched by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) in April to address the continent’s energy access gap.

Africa has the highest number of people globally without electricity, with nearly 600 million lacking access. The plan seeks to unlock at least $90 billion in capital from multilateral development banks, private investors, and philanthropies to expand and rehabilitate electricity grids. “We want to expand and rehabilitate our electricity grids using the least cost possible,” said Kevin Kariuki, AfDB’s vice president for infrastructure, during an energy summit in Dar es Salaam.

Countries including Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, and Tanzania pledged to reform their utility companies, integrate renewable energy, and raise national electricity connection targets. World Bank President Ajay Banga emphasized that these commitments will help persuade private investors to fund Africa’s energy sectors. “Providing 300 million people with access to electricity is a crucial building block for boosting Africa’s development by creating new jobs,” Banga said.

The World Bank plans to contribute $30-40 billion, while the AfDB will provide $10-15 billion. The remaining funds will come from private investors and other sources. Banga noted that the World Bank will disburse funds only after countries implement regulatory and policy reforms. Historically, private capital has been deterred by unfriendly regulations, bureaucratic hurdles, and currency risks.

Half of the new connections will rely on existing national grids, while the other half will come from renewable energy sources like wind and solar mini-grids. The summit also introduced the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration and National Energy Compacts, which outline country-specific targets and timelines for reforms. Twelve countries, including Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, presented their energy compacts during the summit.

The partnerships and commitments made at the summit are expected to transform millions of lives, drive sustainable development, and create jobs across the continent.