Assahafa.com
Morocco has raised its electrification rate from 16% in 1996 to 99.9% in 2025, establishing one of the most extensive electrification programs in Africa and the world, Tarik Hamane, director general of the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE), said Tuesday in Rabat.
“Just a few decades ago, Morocco faced a situation similar to that of many African countries today, with electrification rates limited to 16%. Thanks to the National Rural Electrification Program (PNER), the Kingdom has carried out one of the continent’s and the world’s most ambitious electrification projects,” Hamane said during Mission 300 (M300) Day, held on the sidelines of the 2025 Africa Investment Forum (AIF).
Hamane emphasized that this transformation underscores the feasibility of Mission 300’s goal, which aims to connect 300 million people to electricity by 2030.
He added that Morocco is fully ready to share its expertise with partner African countries and support the initiative, confident that its experience can make a major contribution in areas such as technical know-how, planning, infrastructure management, operations, and capacity building.
Hamane also noted that electrification is a driver of economic and social development, promoting job creation, the growth of small businesses, and economic agility, while facilitating access to digital technology, improving healthcare, and opening new opportunities for communities.
Wale Shonibare, director of energy at the African Development Bank (AfDB), highlighted the crucial role of national leadership embodied by the energy compacts launched at the meeting.
He pointed out that governments cannot finance all their electrification needs alone, underlining the key role that the private sector must play in this transformation. Shonibare said the AIF provides a strategic platform for countries to showcase reforms and attract international investors.
He added that the forum represents a serious dialogue that invites investors from around the world, giving African countries the opportunity to present their strengths and reforms to attract private capital, essential for achieving Mission 300’s ambitious goal of ending energy poverty across the continent.
Drawing on lessons from previous stages in Tanzania, London, and New York, as well as the African Climate and Mobility Forum (ACMF) scheduled in Johannesburg, M300 partners are proposing a series of dedicated commitments within the AIF, combining transactional deep-dives, peer learning, and targeted matchmaking opportunities between governments and private investors.
The AIF, held from Nov. 26 to 28 under the theme “Bridging The Gap: Mobilising Private Capital To Unlock Africa’s Full Potential,” is an investment platform aimed at facilitating international investments in Africa by bringing together project developers, financiers, governments, and other key stakeholders to conclude deals.
Source: map
