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The Africa Energy Summit 2025 has officially opened in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, bringing together a powerful coalition of leaders, stakeholders, and experts to address the continent’s energy access challenges. The summit’s central theme, “Mission 300,” targets providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Hosted by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the summit marks a historic step in Africa’s energy transformation. The event has drawn a distinguished group of African Heads of State, business leaders, and representatives from development partners and civil society, all coming together to discuss Africa’s energy future.
Mission 300 is spearheaded by key partners, including the African Union, the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), the World Bank Group, and the Rockefeller Foundation. At the heart of this initiative is the urgent need to address the continent’s electricity gap, with approximately 600 million people currently lacking access to reliable power.
During the opening session, leaders highlighted the summit’s crucial role in accelerating energy access for underserved regions, fostering the transition to renewable energy, and enhancing energy efficiency. Central to these discussions is the promotion of private sector investment to catalyze growth and innovation within Africa’s energy sector.
One of the key outcomes expected from the summit is the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, which will showcase African governments’ commitments to reforming their energy sectors and achieving universal access to electricity. Additionally, National Energy Compacts will be introduced, outlining country-specific strategies with measurable targets and timelines for implementing reforms. The first phase will see 12 countries—Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia—present their compacts, with more nations to follow in subsequent phases.
As the summit progresses, attention will also turn to Mission 300, a groundbreaking partnership between the African Development Bank, the World Bank Group, and other global stakeholders. This initiative is expected to leverage advanced technology, innovative financing models, and strong governance reforms to close the energy gap and ensure access to clean, sustainable energy for millions of people across sub-Saharan Africa.
Day 1 Highlights:
The summit kicked off with a welcome address by Eng. Felchesmi J. Mramba, Permanent Secretary of Tanzania’s Ministry of Energy, followed by an opening statement from Dr. Doto Biteko, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy of Tanzania. The day continued with a high-level fireside chat featuring Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank; Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group; and Dr. Rajiv Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, discussing the vision and strategies behind Mission 300.
Day 2 Key Events:
Day two of the summit will include remarks from prominent global leaders, such as Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, and Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group. The session will focus on translating ideas into actionable steps to accelerate energy access. A major highlight will be the presentation of the Clean Cooking Initiatives Award by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, recognizing efforts to improve cooking solutions across Africa.
A panel on private investment in Africa’s energy sector will bring together industry leaders such as Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of TotalEnergies, and Hussain AlNowais, Chairman of AMEA Power. This discussion will explore the role of the private sector in shaping Africa’s energy future and explore risk mitigation strategies to boost investor confidence.
Mission 300’s Long-Term Impact
Mission 300 is set to reshape Africa’s energy landscape by increasing grid connections, deploying mini-grids, and expanding the use of solar power to reach remote and off-grid communities. This initiative will also drive infrastructure investment and policy reforms, creating a more resilient and sustainable energy sector. With private sector participation, Mission 300 has the potential to unlock unprecedented economic growth across the continent.
As the summit continues, the world is watching how these initiatives will unfold and what tangible steps will be taken to close the energy access gap, ensuring that millions of Africans can benefit from affordable and sustainable electricity by 2030.
