Terna Innovation Zone Platform Inaugurated in Tunisia
Strengthening Strategic Partnership between Tunisia and Italy
The Terna Innovation Zone platform was inaugurated on Wednesday, January 29, in a grand ceremony attended by Mohamed Ali Nafti, Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italian Minister of Energy Security. The importance of the ELMED project, of which Terna Innovation Zone is a component, was highlighted during the inauguration, emphasizing its role in strengthening ties between the two countries.
ELMED Project: A Key Energy Interconnection
The ELMED project aims to connect the Tunisian electrical grid, managed by STEG, to the Italian electrical grid, managed by TERNA, via an undersea cable. The electrical line will link the Partanna station in Sicily to the Mlaabi station on the Tunisian peninsula of Cap Bon, spanning a total distance of approximately 220 kilometers (with around 200 km of underwater cable). The interconnection will have a capacity of 600 MW and reach a maximum depth of around 800 meters along the Sicily Canal. The project is expected to become operational in 2028.
Terna Innovation Zone: A Hub for Innovation and Research
The Terna Innovation Zone platform aims to reinforce the strategic partnership between the two countries, support the ELMED project, and invite innovative initiatives. The structure will serve as a research laboratory and application hub for the project, fostering the development and testing of new ideas in the energy sector. It will also strive to attract Tunisian talent capable of creating new energy solutions and driving a successful energy transition.
