Tunisia Faces Critical Need for 600 Million Dinars to Invest in Energy Transition Projects

The Director General of the National Energy Control Agency, Fathi Hanchi, revealed that Tunisia needs 600 million dinars to invest in energy transition projects at the municipal level. This announcement was made at the conclusion of the "Alliance Communes for Energy Transition" project.

During a press conference on the sidelines of the national conference on the role of local authorities in implementing the national energy transition strategy, Hanchi highlighted that the results of the national and comprehensive energy audit for Tunisia's 350 municipalities were evaluated during the event. He specified that this pioneering audit operation, a world first, was carried out in collaboration with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.

The audit covered various aspects, including the automotive fleet, buildings, and public lighting networks. By adopting energy-saving mechanisms, significant savings are expected, contributing to an estimated 150 million dinars in savings. This economy is all the more crucial in a country that spends nearly 4 billion dinars annually to subsidize energy.

The conference aimed to raise awareness among national stakeholders and financiers about the audit results and investment opportunities in the energy transition sector. The "Alliance Communes for Energy Transition" project focuses on municipal property inventory, land redevelopment, transportation, and public lighting, among other initiatives.

Hanchi also mentioned that a project to cover municipal buildings with solar panels is currently being negotiated with Italian partners, requiring approximately 30 million dinars in funding for its implementation.

This national conference, organized by the National Agency for Energy Management (ANME) in partnership with various structures and with the support of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, provided an in-depth exploration of the challenges and prospects of energy transition at the municipal level in Tunisia.