WORLD Bank president Ajay Banga has called for unified efforts to unlock Africa’s energy potential.

Addressing delegates at the opening of the Africa Heads of State energy summit in Dar es Salaam yesterday, he stressed that with the right investments, innovative partnerships and political will African countries can overcome energy challenges and provide reliable, sustainable electricity to millions of people.

He urged African countries to prioritize energy infrastructure development as a pathway to achieving economic growth, improved livelihoods and environmental sustainability.

Highlighting Africa's transformative potential in reshaping its energy landscape through collective action, he argued for strong emphasis on the goal of ensuring electricity reaches more citizens across the continent by 2030.

“By 2030, we must ensure that access to electricity is no longer a luxury but a necessity for all citizens of Africa,” he said, while Dr Doto Biteko, the deputy prime minister and Energy minister, said Tanzania views Mission 300 as a pivotal catalyst for implementation of the national energy policy, focused on promoting sustainable energy, conservation and efficiency.

In his host minister’s opening address, he referred to the critical need for further investments in the energy sector, particularly to support growth in the industrial, mining and hospitality sectors.

The sectors require strategic energy investments to drive future expansion, he said, pointing at efforts to increase the share of renewable energy in the generation mix, in order to strengthen availability, security and reliability of supply.

He explained the effort by Tanzania to strengthen energy links with neighbouring African countries through power interconnections with Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda, along with plans to extend this connection to Zambia.

The summit would facilitate the sharing of experiences, securing vital political commitments and leveraging partnerships to unlock private-sector investments, he stated.

It would also help in establishing collaborations to fund energy infrastructure and agreeing on a monitoring framework, including the creation of a compact monitoring index to track the progress of national energy compacts expected to be agreed at the summit, he specified.

"Today, in the spirit of lighting Africa as envisioned in Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals, Dar es Salaam is privileged to host this historic summit, complementing Africa’s desire to power the continent," the senior minister underlined.

Highlighting Africa's energy achievements since independence, he said that electricity generation has increased from 21 MW at independence to 3,160 MW at present, projected to reach 4,000 MW by the year’s end.

Dr Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), applauded Tanzania for its remarkable strides in energy infrastructure.

He commended the country for setting a benchmark with its commitment to providing electricity to all 12,318 villages, ensuring that no citizen is left behind in the nation’s energy development journey.

“Tanzania has set an inspiring example of what is possible with strong leadership and strategic investment. The country’s efforts in electrifying its rural areas provide a model for other nations across the continent to follow,” he told the delegates.

“The AfDB remains committed to supporting Africa’s energy ambitions through financing and strategic partnerships,” he asserted

The first day of the summit, which brought together energy ministers, leaders from international financial institutions, experts and civil society stakeholders, was an important platform for discussions on Africa’s energy future.

During the two-day summit, delegates will explore the goals, policy priorities and solutions needed to implement the ambitious Mission 300 initiative – a programme aimed at expanding electricity access to 300 million people across Africa within the next five years, observers say.