DAR ES SALAAM, Jan 28 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — Development partners, including the World Bank, have highlighted Tanzania as a role model for other African nations in achieving universal electricity access.
Nearly all villages in Tanzania are now connected to electricity, with ongoing efforts to extend connections to smaller hamlets and individual households.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the Africa Energy Summit, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga commended Tanzania’s achievements. He emphasized that the country’s progress in providing electricity to rural and urban areas is a beacon of inspiration for the continent.
“This is something we need across Africa. Tanzania has made enormous progress and serves as a lighthouse for others to follow. Despite their success, they have ambitious plans to do even more, so congratulations to Tanzania,” said Banga.
The summit focuses on accelerating electricity access through the “Mission 300” initiative, aiming to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.
Banga explained that the energy compact will utilize geo-spatial mapping to identify households across the continent and determine energy solutions, including distributable solar power and national grid connections.
He emphasized that Africa’s demographic growth underscores the urgency for collective efforts among development stakeholders, including the World Bank, which supports clean energy projects through concessional loans. Banga highlighted electricity’s critical role in job creation and overall development, warning that the persistent energy gap could have severe consequences for the continent.
African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina also lauded Tanzania for its impressive milestone in connecting villages to electricity. He urged other nations to learn from Tanzania’s success to expand energy access, emphasizing, “The continent cannot develop in the dark.”
Dr Adesina highlighted the summit’s action-driven agenda, aimed at fostering partnerships and cooperation to provide electricity for those still living without it. He noted that Africa loses 3-4 per cent of its GDP annually due to inadequate electricity access, a challenge that requires private sector involvement to address.
Dr. Rajiv Shah, President of the Rockefeller Foundation, echoed the need for collaborative efforts. He stressed that achieving universal electricity access must be an African-led initiative, with the summit offering a framework for public-private partnerships to shine.
Together, these leaders underscored the transformative potential of energy access for Africa’s development and the urgent need to bridge the continent’s energy gap. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
