The recently concluded Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam has been hailed as a turning point in Africa’s energy transformation, shifting the continent from fragmented national efforts to a unified strategy backed by financial commitments and political will.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) lauded the summit as a landmark event, emphasizing its role in accelerating universal electricity access. Discussions among African leaders underscored both the challenges and opportunities on the path to energy security.

Ethiopia’s President Taye Astike Selassie Amde highlighted the progress made and the work ahead, noting that despite an overall electricity access rate of 54%, 60 million Ethiopians still lack electricity. Similarly, Benin’s Vice President Miriam Chabi Talata shared her nation’s success in reducing energy dependence on Ghana and Nigeria, with Benin now producing 50% of its energy through solar, thermal, and hydroelectric sources.

Ghana’s President John Mahama stressed the importance of effective governance, particularly for state-owned utilities, while Ethiopia set an ambitious goal of achieving universal electricity access by 2028, requiring the electrification of 3.4 million households annually.

Private sector leaders called for urgent reforms in transmission and distribution. IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop stressed that private sector involvement in financing energy infrastructure remains insufficient, and TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné emphasized the need for expanded grid infrastructure to support renewable energy development.

Financial commitments at the summit were substantial, with the World Bank and AfDB jointly pledging $48 billion to mobilize further investment. World Bank President Ajay Banga underscored the necessity of collaboration, stating, "No one can do it alone. Governments, businesses, philanthropies, and development banks must work together."

To bolster private sector engagement, the IFC announced a new $1 billion fund for decentralized renewable energy and off-grid solar solutions. Additionally, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority CEO Aminu Umar-Sadiq highlighted the importance of structuring investments to attract local currency equity.

The summit also signified a shift from traditional aid models to cooperative partnerships. France committed €1 billion toward universal electricity access and pledged €10 million to the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA). Denmark, the UK, and Spain increased their contributions to SEFA by €13.4 million, €10.13 million, and €3 million, respectively.

AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina highlighted Africa’s progress, citing an increase in electricity access from 39% in 2015 to 52% in 2024. However, with 571 million Africans still without electricity—83% of the global population without access—he urged decisive action to close the gap.

The Dar es Salaam Declaration, adopted at the summit, commits governments to energy sector reforms, increased transparency in utility management, and private sector-friendly regulations. Development partners also pledged enhanced concessional financing and technical support.

Looking ahead, the summit’s resolutions will be presented at the African Union Summit in February 2025 for continent-wide adoption. Additionally, twelve African nations—Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia—will spearhead Energy Compact implementations as part of Mission 300.

The summit also addressed Africa’s clean cooking crisis, which results in 600,000 deaths annually and incurs economic costs of nearly $800 billion. Innovative solutions, including pay-as-you-cook LPG models and efficient biomass stoves, were showcased, with Tanzania committing to achieving 80% clean cooking adoption by 2034.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan emphasized the broader impact of energy access, stating, "This summit goes beyond energy access. It is about empowering families, lifting millions out of poverty, and providing hope and opportunities for youth."

As Africa embarks on this ambitious journey, the next 12 to 18 months will be crucial in determining whether this new collaborative approach can achieve what previous efforts could not.