By Alfred Zacharia
Dar es Salaam hosted the Africa Energy Leaders’ Summit today, marking a pivotal moment in the continent's journey toward achieving universal energy access.
The event brought together leaders, experts, and stakeholders from across Africa and beyond, focusing on bridging the energy gap in alignment with the African Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Speaking during the opening, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Dr. Doto Mashaka Biteko, emphasized the progress African countries have made in electricity generation since independence.
He highlighted Tanzania’s success, which has seen its generation capacity grow from just 21 MW at independence to 3,160 MW today.
Despite such achievements, Africa still faces a significant challenge, with approximately 571 million people lacking access to electricity.
The summit aims to accelerate efforts to provide electricity to an additional 300 million people across the continent within the next five years under the Mission 300 initiative.
Dr. Biteko expressed appreciation to the summit’s co-organizers, including the World Bank, African Development Bank, Rockefeller Foundation, Sustainable Energy for All, and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, for their collaborative efforts in facilitating this critical gathering.
He emphasized that their expertise and commitment would be instrumental in shaping actionable strategies for addressing Africa’s energy needs.
The Deputy Prime Minister also outlined Tanzania’s ambitious plans to increase its power generation capacity to 4,000 MW by the end of 2025, prioritizing clean and renewable energy sources.
Electrification projects aim to cover all 12,318 villages across the country, while regional interconnections with neighboring countries, including Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia, will enhance energy security and cooperation.
Tanzania’s energy advancements serve as a model for other nations, though Dr. Biteko acknowledged the continued need for strategic investments to support industrialization, mining, and service sectors.
Dr. Biteko highlighted President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership in advocating for clean energy solutions, particularly in addressing challenges related to access to clean cooking energy across Africa.
These efforts are integrated into the summit’s resolutions, which call for increased commitments and partnerships to achieve the continent’s energy goals.
Global leaders attending the summit underscored the urgency of addressing Africa’s energy challenges. World Bank President Ajay Banga emphasized the need for a collective effort to transform Africa’s energy landscape and extend electricity access to millions by 2030.
African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina praised Tanzania’s success in rural electrification, calling it an example for the continent.
He expressed confidence that the goal of connecting 300 million people to electricity would be achieved through transparency and accountability.
Zambia’s Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, expressed gratitude to Tanzania for supplying electricity to Zambia during its energy shortages, underscoring the importance of regional cooperation in addressing Africa’s energy challenges.
The summit’s outcomes are expected to include political commitments, shared experiences, and frameworks for mobilizing investments, particularly from the private sector.
Resolutions will also establish a monitoring system to ensure progress toward the agreed goals.
Dr. Biteko urged stakeholders to seize this opportunity to finalize actionable plans and forge stronger partnerships to unlock Africa’s energy potential and close the energy access gap.
