Dubai’s AMEA Power has started working on its Tunisia solar power venture. The groundbreaking ceremony for the 120MWp Kairouan Solar Photovoltaic project, funded by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), was held earlier this week. The project is in line with the 2035 energy strategy approved by the Tunisian Government in April 2023.
“This strategy”, according to Fatma Thabet Chiboub, Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, “aims primarily to strengthen the country’s energy security and limit its dependence on fossil fuel imports, but also to combat energy precarity while contributing to carbon neutrality by 2050. This strategy also takes into account the positive impact on the country’s economic growth, business competitiveness and household purchasing power, as well as on Tunisia’s commitments under the Paris Agreement”.
The project is valued at $86 million and is expected to yield 222GWh of renewable energy annually, catering to over 43,000 households and offsetting 117,000 tonnes of carbon emissions throughout its operational lifespan. Initially secured by AMEA Power through an international tender program facilitated by Tunisia’s Ministry of Industry and SMEs, the project has since garnered considerable attention.
Hussain Al Nowais, chairman of AMEA Power, said, “By taking advantage of its renewable energy resources, and its strategic location between North Africa and Europe, Tunisia can become a prime location for green energy and trade. This groundbreaking project is a beacon for future renewable energy projects in the country, supporting the government’s goal of achieving 35% renewable energy in its energy mix by 2030.”
Earlier this year, Wael Chouchane, the Secretary of State for Energy Transition, officially opened Tunisia’s first photovoltaic solar power plant in Djerba, located in the southeast of the country.
Spanning 1 MW, this plant in the Ajim delegation is projected to provide electricity to 500 households, aiding in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Built with a 3 million dinar investment, the station covers 1.5 hectares and comprises approximately 2,000 solar panels, each boasting a capacity of 510 watts.
Additionally, in June 2021, a concession agreement and a 20-year power purchase agreement were formalized with the Société Tunisienne de l’Electricité et du Gaz (STEG), endorsed by the Tunisian government in May 2022.
