After the Compacts: Turning Mission 300's Promise into a Bright Future

From Ambition to Implementation

Mission 300 was launched to connect 300 million more people in Africa to reliable electricity by 2030. With 17 new National Energy Compacts unveiled in September 2025, the initiative has reached its most exciting stage yet.

These new commitments, backed by governments and development partners, focus on expanding renewable generation, modernising grids, and attracting private investment. Yet as implementation begins, one critical question remains: How can we ensure that the infrastructure built to power Africa’s future actually lasts?

The Missing Link: Durability in Practice

The latest Compacts outline what needs to be built, but few describe how those systems will remain reliable over decades of use.

Electric poles, lines and sub-stations are the backbone of energy access. If they deteriorate prematurely, the costs — financial, environmental and social — can quickly undermine progress. Planning for long-term durability is therefore not a technical footnote; it’s a strategic necessity.

Why Durability is a Strategic Issue

• Financial Sustainability: Durable infrastructure minimises costly replacements and maintenance, stretching limited project budgets further. In large-scale energy access programs, saving on repeat installations means more communities connected, faster.
• Investor Confidence: Private investors and development banks look for predictability. When asset lifespans are uncertain, project risk — and cost of finance — rises. Building durability into infrastructure reduces that uncertainty and attracts stronger funding partnerships.
• Community Trust: For households gaining electricity for the first time, reliability equals confidence. Frequent outages caused by failing poles or weak infrastructure can erode public trust in national utilities and new energy systems.
• Environmental Efficiency: Maximising infrastructure lifespan reduces the number of trees cut for new poles, lowers transport emissions, and minimises waste — supporting the green energy goals at the core of Mission 300.

Four Practical Steps to Make it Happen

• Embed Durability in Procurement Standards: Projects should specify ground-line protection, proven preservative systems and minimum service-life targets.
• Budget for the Full Lifecycle: Financing should include inspection, maintenance and repair — not just installation.
• Track and Share Performance Data: Gathering evidence on decay rates and pole longevity helps governments and funders refine standards and scale what works.
• Invest in Local Capacity: Training and supply-chain development ensure that protective systems can be installed and maintained locally, creating jobs and reducing long-term costs.

Polesaver's Perspective: Building What Endures

Polesaver’s ground-line barrier sleeve technology has been proven to add 20 years to the lifespan of wooden poles — even in high-moisture or termite-prone environments. As countries begin executing their Compacts, this kind of preventative solution represents immediate value: lower lifetime cost, fewer replacements, and greater grid reliability.

But beyond technology, Polesaver’s mission aligns closely with Mission 300’s ethos: sustainable development that lasts. The goal isn’t simply to connect millions today — it’s to keep those connections strong for generations.

Conclusion: The Lights Must Stay On

Mission 300 is one of the most ambitious and inspiring development programmes of this decade. With governments, financiers and utilities now aligned, the challenge shifts from access to endurance.

To achieve lasting impact, energy systems must be built to withstand time, climate and cost pressures. That’s why durability — from the ground up — should now stand beside access, affordability and sustainability as a pillar of Africa’s power future.

Polesaver remains ready to partner with governments, utilities and investors to help ensure that the lights switched on through Mission 300 stay on — safely and sustainably — for decades to come.

Get in Touch

Polesaver has been dedicated to extending the life of wooden poles for over 30 years, and is used in over 30 countries worldwide. Get in touch to speak to one of our team, or to schedule a TEAMs call for your and your staff for more information.