Supporting an accelerated energy transition in Tunisia

Project description

Title: Supporting an accelerated Tunisian energy transitio
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Tunisia
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy (MIME), Tunisian National Energy Agency (ANME), Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (STEG)
Overall term: 2022 to 2026

gizIMAGE-die-energiewende-in-tunesien-beschleunigen-1

Context

In Tunisia, electricity is produced almost exclusively by burning natural gas, more than half of which is imported. This dependence poses a threat to energy security and is a strain on the national budget. At the same time, energy efficiency (EnEff) and renewable energy (RE) have enormous potential in Tunisia. The country has adopted an energy transition strategy that will allow primary energy demand to decrease by some 30 per cent and to generate 35 per cent of its electricity from RE by 2030. In addition, greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced by 45 per cent compared to 2010, with the target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. This protects Tunisia from rising energy prices, eases the burden on the state budget and promotes value creation and employment. However, implementation of the energy transition strategy is being delayed due to slow, complex procedures.

Objective

Tunisia has better strategic, regulatory, administrative and technical conditions for an accelerated energy transition.

Approach

In cooperation with the country’s Ministry of Energy (MIME), the Tunisian National Energy Agency (ANME) and the Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (STEG), the project supports the acceleration of the energy transition by:

  • Improving strategic and regulatory frameworks that contribute to the decarbonisation of the energy sector
  • Simplifying and digitising administrative processes to accelerate the implementation of funding programmes for EnEff and RE projects
  • Training actors in the private sector to improve the quality of EnEff measures and RE systems
  • Implementing innovative approaches for more power system flexibility to ensure stable grid operation with increasing shares of RE in the grid.

In addition, the project chiefly supports activities in rural regions and promotes digitalisation and gender equality in the energy industry.

Strom aus Photovoltaik-Anlagen stellt eine wirtschaftliche Alternative zur Stromerzeugung in Tunesien dar. Foto: GIZ

Last update: December 2022

Additional information