Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s emerging role as a leading force in Africa’s energy sector has come to the fore at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit with participants, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, taking note of milestones and achievements the country has made in power generation and regional interconnectivity.
Tanzania’s grid is interconnected with Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and Kenya, paving the way for what participants stated on Monday, January 27, at the ongoing two-day Summit that should serve as a model for African countries.
During the official opening of the Summit, Dr Biteko underscored Tanzania’s energy leadership by announcing plans to increase the nation’s electricity generation capacity to 4,000 megawatts by the end of 2025, harnessing a diverse range of energy sources, including renewables.
This initiative will extend power access to all 12,318 villages nationwide, bridging rural-urban energy disparities.
Tanzania’s grid interconnectivity with neighbouring countries further underscores its leadership in advancing regional energy integration.
Ongoing projects to connect with Zambia will enhance this role, facilitating cross-border electricity trade and cooperation.
Dr Biteko also noted Tanzania’s leadership in promoting clean cooking energy solutions across Africa, a commitment championed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
These efforts, he noted, will be reflected in a declaration to be signed at the summit, advocating increased collaboration and investment in addressing energy challenges across the continent.
The summit has convened participants from across the globe to deliberate for two days on strategies to provide electricity to 300 million Africans within the next five years.
Dr Biteko lauded the summit as a critical platform for accelerating sustainable development across the continent.
He noted that the summit aligns with Tanzania’s National Energy Policy, which champions the expansion of energy access, efficiency, and conservation to support economic growth.
“While Tanzania has made great strides in energy infrastructure and regional connectivity, further strategic investments in renewable energy are vital to support industrial and mining sectors, which are key to our economic ambitions,” Dr Biteko said.
Commendation from other leaders
World Bank President, Ajay Banga, commended Tanzania’s leadership in the energy sector and emphasised the potential of Africa to transform its energy landscape through collective efforts.
“Africa can change the face of Africa by working together to harness our resources and ensure that electricity reaches more people by 2030,” Banga said.
African Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina, praised Tanzania for its impressive achievements in expanding electricity access to rural communities.
“Development goals demand strong public-private partnerships,” Dr Adesina stated, adding that platforms like Mission 300 lay the foundation for sustainable growth.
The summit’s core mission
The Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, which will culminate in a meeting of African heads of state, is focused on the ambitious goal of providing electricity to an additional 300 million Africans within the next five years.
Under the banner of Mission 300, the summit seeks to address this challenge by galvanising political will, private sector investment, and international cooperation.
Dr Biteko highlighted the summit’s goal of accelerating electrification efforts and diversifying energy sources.
“Our policy aims to expand access to modern energy services and increase the contribution of renewables to our energy mix, ensuring reliability, security, and sustainability,” he said.
