12 African Nations Unveil Energy Strategies at Summit

During the Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, 12 African nations unveiled their National Energy Compacts, outlining strategies to achieve universal energy access and promote clean cooking solutions as part of the World Bank and African Development Bank's Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. The summit also saw the announcement of nearly two dozen new energy access projects funded by the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and the Rockefeller Foundation, which are designed to overcome bureaucratic challenges and expedite the implementation of energy projects. World Bank President Ajay Banga emphasized the critical need for investments and innovative partnerships to unlock Africa’s energy potential and ensure that electricity becomes a necessity for all citizens by 2030. He highlighted the importance of enhancing energy infrastructure to support economic growth and environmental sustainability. The commitment of $35 billion for solar minigrids and other improvements aims to bring electricity to half of Africa's 600 million unelectrified people within six years, although skepticism remains regarding the feasibility of these ambitious plans. Overall, the summit marked a significant step towards addressing Africa's energy challenges through collective action and investment.