‘Collaborative policies, sustained multi-stakeholder investments critical to bridging energy deficit’ 

Sahara Group has emphasised the need for collaborative policies, sustained multi-stakeholder investments, and bold reforms to address Africa’s persistent energy access challenges.

Speaking at the recently concluded Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Executive Director of Sahara Group, Kola Adesina stressed the urgency of tackling the continent’s energy deficit. 

He called for enhanced cooperation between African nations and international partners to expand power supply to underserved communities, accelerate the adoption of renewable energy, and improve overall energy efficiency across the region.

Adesina reaffirmed Sahara Group’s commitment to the Mission 300 Energy Access Initiative, which aims to provide energy access to 300 million Africans by 2030.

“We are delighted that heads of government and other key stakeholders are actively seeking creative ways to extend electricity to over 600 million Africans who currently lack access,” he said.

The agreement to expand electricity access to 300 million people by 2030, which was endorsed by heads of government and key partners at the summit, represents a significant milestone for Africa, Adesina noted. 

He pledged Sahara Group’s support for this ambitious vision through collaboration with stakeholders across the energy value chain. He stressed that achieving this goal would require strong partnerships between governments, private sector stakeholders, development agencies, and civil society organisations. 

Beyond securing funding, he highlighted the importance of capacity building in energy infrastructure and technology as key to the initiative’s success.
“We are tackling a crucial task—bridging the energy gap in Africa—and we need a strong coalition of stakeholders to achieve this. Bold policies, tariff reforms, and an unwavering commitment to infrastructure investment will be essential. Sahara Group has already invested in this initiative, enhancing our power operations to provide reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions that will drive economic growth,” Adesina stated.

Through its subsidiary, Sahara Power Group, the energy conglomerate remains committed to viable and sustainable investments in power generation and distribution across the continent.

“With a generation capacity of approximately 2,000MW, Sahara Group remains committed to expanding energy access. In Nigeria, we are set to commission a new 180MW power plant in Rivers State this year to boost power supply and support industrialisation in Africa’s most populous nation. Additionally, we are exploring hydro generation investments in East Africa to promote clean energy access,” he added.