The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the World Bank Group are set to host a landmark energy summit for African heads of state and government.

The AfDB, in a publication on its website, emphasised that the energy summit presents an avenue for public, private stakeholders and donor agencies to forge a common front towards improving electricity access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030.

The two-day summit, which is in collaboration with the African Union and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, is scheduled for January 27 and 28 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

According to the bank, nearly 600 million Africans have no access to electricity, a number that represents 83 percent of the global energy deficit.

It however noted that accelerating the pace of electrification in Africa is urgent – and within reach.

“To achieve this, the World Bank and the African Development Bank, together with development partners, have embarked on a mission to expand electricity access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030,” the bank said.

Launched in April 2024, the initiative known as ‘Mission 300’ is expected to combine increased infrastructure investment and comprehensive policy reforms across the entire electricity supply chain to transform lives and improve livelihoods and communities across the continent.

The development bank said the energy summit will consolidate progress already made by African countries towards universal electrification.

It added: “The Africa Energy Summit will bring together African Heads of State and Government, private sector leaders, development partners and donors, sector experts, civil society organizations, and members of academia, to mobilize and secure the financial resources, partnerships, and political commitment required to achieve Mission 300.”