Charles Muchoki | Africa Guardian
Tanzania is hosting the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, marking a critical step toward addressing the continent’s pressing energy challenges.
Speaking at the summit’s opening on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr. Doto Mashaka Biteko, emphasized the importance of the Mission 300 initiative, which aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity within five years.
“In the 1960s, Dar es Salaam served as a hub for African patriots striving for independence. Today, we gather here to illuminate Africa’s path toward energy security,” Dr. Biteko remarked.
He acknowledged the essential contributions of global partners, including the World Bank, African Development Bank, and the Rockefeller Foundation, which helped bring the summit to fruition.
The summit’s ambitious agenda aligns with Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which advocate for universal access to affordable, reliable energy by 2030. Despite progress in some areas, Dr. Biteko pointed out that 571 million Africans still live without electricity.
Tanzania has made notable strides in the energy sector, with rural electrification programs now covering all 12,318 villages and plans to expand the country’s energy capacity to 4,000 MW by the end of the year. Dr. Biteko highlighted that a significant portion of Tanzania’s electricity comes from clean, renewable sources, underscoring the summit’s commitment to sustainability.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has also been a vocal advocate for clean cooking solutions across Africa, emphasizing the need to transition away from traditional fuels. “The energy we use to cook, whether it’s pap in South Africa or couscous in Algeria, must be part of this broader energy conversation,” Dr. Biteko noted, urging greater investment in clean cooking technologies.
Over the two-day summit, delegates will finalize National Energy Compacts for 14 pilot countries, providing a framework for coordinated investments and policy actions. The summit will also introduce a Compact Monitoring Index to measure progress and accountability.
Dr. Biteko expressed optimism about the summit’s potential, stressing the importance of strategic partnerships to attract private sector investment and create equitable energy solutions. “Electricity in Africa is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity and a driver of development,” he stated.
The summit represents a milestone in Africa’s energy transformation, seeking to harness the continent’s vast potential, close its energy gap, and support sustainable economic growth.
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