Mission 300, a UN-sanctioned bilateral initiative, will expand electricity access to more than 300 million African citizens over the next six years. This plan will combat rising electricity concerns on the continent.
In late January, 30 African heads of state gathered in the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, to allocate $50 billion from the World Bank and African Development Bank to develop and implement renewable electricity. According to the World Bank, while this is only half of the continent’s unelectrified population, it would bring power to five million people monthly.
Husk Power Systems, an American company producing solar mini-grids, was unwilling to sell its electricity at the government’s desired price and, therefore, pulled out of Tanzania recently after establishing itself. This move left many citizens, who had experienced life with reliable power for the first time under the Husk system, once again in the dark. Access to light and electricity is crucial for rural development, powering hospitals, schools, businesses, and households. However, African leaders have renewed hope for a number of factors.
Amid stalling negotiations—such as with the American Husk Power Systems —African leaders are pivoting to alternatives. According to The New York Times, as prices of Chinese-made solar panels fall, their accessibility will draw African nations seeking alternatives. Solar panels are more cost-effective than building less environmentally friendly power infrastructure like power plants. The panels connect to individual and local grids, avoiding a centralized grid’s cost and logistical issues. Under Trump’s presidency, however, American funding to the World Bank is a risk, with the potential to jeopardize Mission 300 and throw millions into the dark.
Sources:
Bearak, M., & Malin Fezehai. (2025, January 27). A $35 Billion Loan Project, Led by World Bank, Aims to Expand Electricity in Africa. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/27/climate/africa-world-bank-solar-electricity.html
Group, W. B. (2025, January 25). Mission 300 Energy Summit to Gather Africa’s Leaders and Partners to Transform Energy Sector. World Bank; World Bank Group. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2025/01/25/mission-300-energy-summit-to-gather-africa-s-leaders-and-partners-to-transform-energy-sector
Song, J., & Benson Ireri. (2024). How China and Africa Can Better Collaborate to Close Sub-Saharan Africa’s Energy Access Gap. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/update/africa-solar-belt-implementation-focac-2024
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