Tag Archives: Electricity

655 Million People Still Without Electricity Underscore Urgent Need to Deliver Universal Energy Access

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Latest data show uneven progress, highlighting the critical need to focus on affordability and vulnerable communities 

Washington, New York, Paris, Geneva, Abu Dhabi, 24 June 2026 – At a time when energy security and affordability have risen to the top of the development agenda, 655 million people globally still lack access to electricity, and two billion use polluting fuels and technologies for cooking putting their health and well-being at risk. Sub-Saharan Africa bears a disproportionate share of these gaps, with over 560 million living without electricity and 970 million lacking access to clean cooking.  

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Under Mission 300, A New Way of Doing Business Connects Over 50 Million People to Electricity Across Africa

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Mission 300 is now delivering electricity access at nearly double the pace recorded at the initiative’s launch — proof that coordinated action can drive large-scale change

CAPE TOWN, June 16, 2026 — The World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group announced today that Mission 300 has connected over 50 million people to electricity across 40 countries — a major milestone toward the initiative’s goal of reaching 300 million people by 2030.

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Mission 300 Launches Private Sector Council to Boost Electricity Access and Job Creation in Africa

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WASHINGTON, March 31, 2026—The World Bank Group, the African Development Bank, and The Rockefeller Foundation launched a new Mission 300 Private Sector Council to mobilize the billions in private investment needed to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030 —while unlocking job creation across the continent.

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Guinea’s electricity surge: powering local small businesses and communities

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • The OMVG transmission network has increased Guinea’s electricity trade capacity to 340,000 KVA, up from zero in 2015, surpassing the original project target and enabling reliable cross-border energy exchange.
  • Guinea’s hydropower plants (Kaleta and Souapiti) now supply clean energy domestically and export 1,174 GWh annually to Senegal, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau, supporting regional energy transition and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
  • Commercial losses in Guinea’s grid are projected to decrease from 40% in 2025 to 20% by 2030, thanks to grid modernization, regularization of illegal connections, and deployment of pre-paid meters under the project.
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Africa’s Eastern Electricity Highway

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Thanks to the World Bank-financed Eastern Electricity Highway Project (EEHP) Kenya is now importing cheaper renewable electricity from Ethiopia. The 1,065 kilometers power transmission line is helping Kenya balance its electricity supply and demand. This is the first publicly financed high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line in Sub-Saharan Africa that promotes regional integration and power exchange. With a 500 kV capacity, the project is facilitating regional power trade within the Eastern African Power Pool (EAPP) by allowing for the bi-directional transfer of up to 2,000 MW of power. The transmission line became operational in December 2022 and is on track to connect to Tanzania and the Southern Africa Power Pool. The project was also supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Agence Française de Dévelopement (AFD), the Government of Ethiopia and Kenya.

“Credit: World Bank Group. All rights reserved”

17 Countries Commit to Concrete Plans to Scale Up Electricity Access as Mission 300 Expands

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NEW YORK, September 24, 2025—Seventeen African governments today committed to reforms and actionable plans to expand electricity access as part of Mission 300—an ambitious partnership led by the World Bank Group and African Development Bank Group that aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.

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How Electricity is Powering Value Addition in Tanzania’s Villages

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Where villagers once struggled with basic tools and meager earnings, they now use modern electric machinery to create valuable finished products.
  • From increased rice production and reduced transportation costs, to booming sunflower oil businesses, access to reliable power is boosting local economies.
  • Tanzania is bringing its vision of universal electrification to reality with support from a $550 million International Development Association investment.
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Let There be Light: In Tanzania, More Electricity Brings Better Education and Health

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • The World Bank is supporting the expansion of energy access through initiatives like the Tanzania Rural Electrification Expansion Program.
  • Rural electrification is helping bridge the gap between urban and rural access to essential services.
  • Lighting for evening study and regular access to academic assessment are improving student performance.
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