W/Bank, AfDB connect 50m to electricity in Nigeria, others

The World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group have announced that Mission 300 has connected over 50 million people to electricity across 40 countries.

A statement yesterday said the Mission 300 is now delivering electricity access at nearly double the pace recorded at the start of the initiative, adding that investing across the full energy value chain has driven gains in both on-grid and off-grid access, connecting households, businesses, and institutions to power faster than before.

It disclosed that more than 4.5 million people have been connected in Nigeria through private sector-led initiatives, demonstrating how well-designed public support and partner financing can help create commercially viable markets.

“In Tanzania, for example, 7.5 million people have gained access to power under Mission 300 — a five-fold increase in the average annual pace of electrification prior to the initiative — driven by increased financing and growing policy momentum. In Ethiopia, 4.6 million people have been connected, supported by reforms that made grid connections more affordable,” it said.

It added that Mission 300 aligns governments, partners, and private sector investors around a single shared agenda and coordination is what is driving faster results: stronger political commitment, deeper policy reform, and the mobilization of resources needed to accelerate electrification and deliver impact on the ground.

“To date, the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group have committed nearly $15 billion in financing and attracted about $4.5 billion in co-financing for Mission 300-related projects, while additional development partners have pledged more than $7 billion in support of Africa’s energy sector.

“Mission 300’s unique approach is also changing the conditions under which private investors participate in African energy markets. By combining government reforms with layered public financing — including grants, guarantees, and concessional loans — the platform is mitigating risks for private providers to serve communities that were previously too costly or difficult to serve.”

“To date, 30 countries have launched National Energy Compacts, country-led plans to strengthen energy systems, expand affordable power generation, scale renewable energy solutions, promote regional integration, and increase private sector participation. Additional compacts are expected to be launched by Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Djibouti, Gabon, Rwanda and Uganda at the Africa Energy Forum this week.”

“Fifty million people connected is a milestone — but the bigger story is the pace and the partnership behind it. Mission 300 is helping countries move faster, connect more people, and build a platform that will last well beyond this effort — one others can use, build on, and scale for years to come. At the end of the day, electricity is not just about power. It is about what it enables: jobs, business, health care, education, and opportunity,” said Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group.

“The 50 million milestone is indeed commendable. This must become the launchpad for faster electrification to enhance food security on account of affordable irrigation; increase capacity to store medicines for better health outcomes, and spur more inclusive economic and social empowerment,” said Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank Group.

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