Tanzania hailed as role model for energy access

DAR ES SALAAM: DEVELOPMENT partners, including the World Bank, have praised Tanzania as a role model for other African countries in ensuring universal access to electricity.

They acknowledged the achievement whereby nearly all villages in Tanzania are now connected to the national grid, with ongoing efforts to expand access to remote hamlets and households.

During a panel discussion at the ongoing Africa Energy Summit, World Bank Group President, Mr Ajay Banga, expressed his admiration for Tanzania’s achievements, applauding the government’s efforts to electrify both rural and urban areas, enabling citizens to grow their economies in the light of reliable power.

“This is something we need across the continent,” Banga said.

“Tanzania has it serves as a lighthouse and beacon for others to follow. Even though they have ambitious plans for the future, we must congratulate them on what they’ve already accomplished,” he said.

He further noted that the Africa Energy Summit that opened yesterday at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) aims to accelerate electricity access across the continent.

The initiative seeks to ensure that all African nations, through the Energy Compact, set achievable goals toward the target of connecting 300 million people to electricity by 2030.

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As part of this transformative effort, Banga explained, the Energy Compact will include geo-spatial mapping to identify households in need of energy, along with the required energy sources, such as solar power and connections to national grids.

He also noted the urgency created by Africa’s demographic boom, stressing the importance of collective efforts from all development stakeholders, including the World Bank, which is providing concessional loans for clean energy projects critical to powering the continent.

Mr Banga underscored that electricity is vital for job creation and economic development, warning that the existing energy gap could have disastrous consequences for Africa’s growth and wellbeing.

African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr Akinwumi Adesina also commended Tanzania for its impressive progress in electrifying villages.

He pointed out that other African nations can learn from Tanzania’s success in strengthening electricity access.

“We cannot develop in the dark,” Dr Adesina said, echoing Banga’s call for increased collaboration. “This summit is action-driven, focused on forming partnerships to bring power to those still living without electricity.” Dr Adesina further noted that Africa currently loses between three and four per cent of its GDP due to the lack of electricity.

He urged private investors to support the continent’s universal electricity access agenda.

President of the Rockefeller Foundation Dr Rajiv Shah said that achieving the ambitious energy access goal for Africa will require collaboration across the public and private sectors.

He stressed that the process should be led by African nations themselves.

“The move toward universal electricity access in Africa must be an African-led process,” he concluded.