Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is set to host the African Energy Summit later this month in Dar es Salaam, a pivotal event that will bring together heads of government from across the continent, alongside over 1,500 executives from multilateral agencies, diplomats, and the private sector.
The summit is scheduled for January 27–28, as announced by Mr Gerson Msigwa, the chief government spokesman and Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Permanent Secretary, during a media workshop held in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
The summit aims to provide a platform for groundbreaking agreements designed to revolutionize energy access for 300 million people across Africa by 2030.
Mr Msigwa highlighted the significance of the event, stating that delegates are expected to adopt the Africa Energy Compact—a strategic framework aimed at advancing sustainable and equitable access to energy, along with a roadmap for clean and inclusive energy development.
In addition to the Africa Energy Compact, the summit will mark the endorsement of the first phase of national energy compacts for 2025–2030.
Fourteen countries, including Tanzania, Nigeria, Zambia, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, will unveil comprehensive plans to enhance energy access, reliability, and affordability.
A key feature of the summit will be the examination and approval of the Dar es Salaam Declaration, which embodies Africa’s collective vision for sustainable energy.
This declaration is set to guide efforts in boosting renewable energy adoption, improving infrastructure, and achieving energy equity across the continent.
Mr Msigwa emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts with international partners, such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB), within the framework of the African Union.
“We are honored to be at the center of these vital discussions, as this summit marks an important step towards ensuring access to electricity for 300 million Africans by 2030,” he stated.
Delegates will focus on several critical areas, including the development of renewable energy sources, the expansion of electricity access in rural and urban areas, and the promotion of clean cooking energy to safeguard public health and protect the environment.
Mr Msigwa stressed the leadership role of President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, positioning Tanzania as a champion of clean cooking energy in Africa.
“President Samia’s diplomatic efforts have placed Tanzania at the forefront of Africa’s energy dialogue,” he noted, highlighting the country’s significant progress in rural electrification.
Currently, nearly all villages are connected to the grid, with over 32,000 hamlets electrified.
These advancements have notably improved health, education, and economic outcomes across the nation.
Tanzania is also committed to ensuring that 80 percent of households have access to clean cooking solutions by 2034, as outlined in its national clean cooking energy strategy.
Mr Msigwa appealed to media outlets to disseminate accurate information about the summit, stressing the importance of public awareness in achieving its objectives.
Innocent Luoga, the Ministerial Commissioner for Electricity and Renewable Energy, emphasized that the Mission 300 Initiative is crucial for reducing Africa’s electricity access gap by expanding infrastructure in underserved areas.
“Mission 300 is a transformative project that will be signed by 14 countries at the summit, marking a milestone in cross-border energy collaboration,” Mr Luoga stated.
Ambassador Noel Kaganda, the Foreign Affairs Director of Multilateral Cooperation, highlighted Tanzania’s achievements in the energy sector.
By December 2024, the country’s electricity generation capacity is expected to reach 3,169.20 megawatts, while access to electricity has surged from 14 percent in 2011 to 78.4 percent by late 2020, driven by the Rural Energy Agency (REA) connecting nearly all villages to the national grid.
“The summit presents an opportunity to showcase Tanzania’s progress in energy development and strengthen its global standing,” Ambassador Kaganda asserted.
As Tanzania prepares to host this significant summit, the stage is set for transformative discussions and collaborations that could redefine energy access across Africa, paving the way for a sustainable future.
