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| Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa. Photo: Courtesy |
By The Respondent Reporter
Tanzania is set to host a high-profile energy summit aimed at raising USD 190 billion to bring electricity to 300 million people across Africa by 2030.
This initiative aligns with the Tanzanian government's ambitious strategy to accelerate rural electrification, a move that has attracted the attention of the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB). The summit is scheduled for January 2025, following the recognition of Tanzania's remarkable progress in the energy sector.
"They are impressed with the performance in the energy sector and the government's commitment to extending electricity to rural areas and every household. As a result, they have decided to hold this major Africa-wide summit that will bring together various stakeholders, international institutions, and lenders to facilitate investment in electrification," said Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa on Monday, September 23, 2024, during an energy access discussion organized by the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) in New York, USA.
Speaking at the Rockefeller Foundation headquarters, Prime Minister Majaliwa confirmed that President Samia Suluhu Hassan had given her approval for Tanzania to host the summit.
The conference, co-organized by the World Bank, AfDB, and the African Union Commission, will bring together global leaders, industry experts, and civil society to explore solutions for sustainable energy access, innovative clean energy technologies, and progressive energy policies.
"I commend the Government of Norway and the Rockefeller Foundation for supporting the efforts of the World Bank and AfDB to ensure that 300 million people have access to electricity by 2030. This initiative is critical, especially for sub-Saharan Africa, where more than 600 million people still lack electricity. Sustainable development is impossible without addressing this challenge swiftly," Majaliwa emphasized.
The Prime Minister thanked the World Bank and AfDB for their continued collaboration with the Tanzanian government in pursuing its goal of universal electrification by 2030.
Earlier, AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina noted that 900 million women still struggle with a lack of clean cooking energy. "Every year, 130 million women need to be reached with clean cooking services. We are losing too many women and children due to the lack of access to this essential service."
Dr. Adesina praised President Samia for her leadership in the energy sector, particularly in promoting clean cooking energy solutions, and expressed optimism that by 2030, Africa will have transitioned away from firewood and charcoal to cleaner energy sources.
Liberian President Joseph Boakai, who also attended the session, stressed that electricity is fundamental to human life and must be prioritized. He pointed out that in Liberia, only a small percentage of the population has access to electricity, mainly in the capital city, with rural areas remaining in darkness. "How can you plan development without electricity? How can you run a hospital without power? This is a critical issue that we cannot afford to delay any longer."
In a related discussion, Prime Minister Majaliwa reaffirmed Tanzania's commitment to ensuring no one is left behind in building a better future for the next generation.
He made this statement while contributing to the debate at "The Future Starts Now" forum, part of the two-day Summit of the Future, held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
"We need to prepare our youth to be better individuals. Let's start today, not tomorrow. Let's give them opportunities to engage in agriculture, livestock, fishing, and the blue economy," Majaliwa said.
The Prime Minister, representing President Samia Suluhu Hassan, is attending the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) alongside Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Thabit Kombo, Minister of State (OR-Planning and Investment) Prof. Kitila Mkumbo, and Zanzibar Health Minister Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, along with other senior government officials.