President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi is set to attend the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, a pivotal event aimed at boosting energy access across the continent. The summit, scheduled for January 27-28, 2025, will convene more than 12 African Heads of State and representatives from various development partners, including the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
One of the key highlights of President Chakwera’s attendance will be presiding over the signing of a significant $300 million compact recently approved by the World Bank Board. This funding aims to bolster Malawi’s ambitious objective of achieving universal energy and electricity access by the year 2030. As part of the Mission 300 initiative, the summit seeks commitments from African leaders to connect 300 million people to electricity within the same timeframe.
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Chakwera will leave Malawi today at 12 PM from Kamuzu International Airport and is expected to return on January 29, 2025, at 9:40 AM. His attendance at this high-profile event underscores the strides Malawi has made in increasing electricity access from a mere 9% during the previous administration to an impressive 25% under his leadership.
“The compact aligns with President Chakwera’s vision to elevate electricity access from 25% to 70% by 2030,” the statement elaborated. Additionally, it will play a crucial role in generating sufficient electricity to power Malawi’s Agricultural Transformation and Manufacturing (ATM) Strategy aimed at fostering economic growth and wealth creation within the country.
The Mission 300 Summit will also feature the adoption of the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, aimed at scaling energy access and transitioning towards clean energy solutions across Africa. Leaders from Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Senegal, and Ivory Coast are among the notable attendees, showcasing a continental effort towards achieving sustainable energy goals.
As President Chakwera embarks on this significant mission, the eyes of Malawi and the greater African community will be on the outcomes and commitments made during the summit, which could reshape the energy landscape of the continent.
