Tunisia's Energy Deficit: A Growing Concern
Tunisia is facing a significant energy deficit of nearly 60%, which threatens the country's energy security and weighs heavily on public expenditure, according to Abdelhamid Khalfallah, Director of Energy Transition at the Ministry of Industry. Speaking at the International Energy Transition Exhibition, held from November 26 to 28 at the UTICA, he presented the current state of affairs and national ambitions for the years to come.
A Growing Deficit
"Since 2010, this deficit has continued to grow," Khalfallah recalled, emphasizing that national gas production currently covers less than 30% of the country's needs, with the rest being imported or supplied by Algeria.
National Strategy
To address this situation, the national strategy focuses on developing renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency. "Today, renewable energies account for only 1 to 2% of primary energy and 5 to 6% of the electricity mix," he specified.
Four Pillars of the Strategy
The strategy is based on four pillars:
- Fuels
- Renewable energies
- New technologies
- Electrification of uses, including electric mobility It also includes a just transition and the fight against energy poverty. "We have implemented programs to support consumers and the local economy," Khalfallah said, emphasizing the inclusion of small consumers and gender equality in the strategy.
Ambitious Objectives
The objectives are ambitious:
- Reduce energy consumption by 30% by 2030 and 37% by 2035
- Achieve 35% of renewable energies by 2030 and 50% by 2035
- Aim for carbon neutrality by 2050 Tunisia also seeks to increase its energy independence, from 40% currently to 67% by 2035, while stimulating job creation, estimated at around 70,000 jobs in the sector.
Project Updates
Khalfallah detailed the progress of various initiatives:
- "We have launched over 50 pilot projects, and several concessions for solar and wind energy are being finalized. Three large-scale wind projects and a 350 MW storage project are ready to start." He also announced the upcoming publication of the renewable energy code, which should strengthen the regulatory framework and accelerate project implementation.
