Tunisia's Energy Crisis: A Call to Action for Renewable Energy
Thirty years ago, Tunisia was self-sufficient in energy production, but today it imports over 60% of its energy needs. The country's energy bill accounts for half of its trade deficit, and subsidies for hydrocarbons have become the largest drain on the state budget. In this climate of chronic vulnerability, one fact is clear: the room for maneuver is shrinking.
The Imperative of Renewable Energy
On May 21, 2026, in Tunis, participants in the panel "The Strategic Imperative of Renewable Energy in Tunisia" emphasized the need for urgent action. Organized as part of the 27th edition of the Maghreb Economist Forum, the discussion revealed a certainty: the energy transition is no longer just a technical issue, but a matter of sovereignty. With electricity demand expected to double in the next 15 years, delaying the transition to renewable energy would mean accepting increasing dependence on energy, economy, and politics.
Expert Insights
Moderated by Serge Degallaix (EQUITIX), four experts shared their diagnoses:
- Afef Jaafar (Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy)
- Olfa Chammari (Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations)
- Rami Elgolli (carbon accounting consultant)
- Hajer Chekir (BYD Tunisie)
Their consensus was clear: Tunisia can no longer wait. To achieve 35% of renewable energy in the electricity mix by 2030, investments worth billions of dollars will be required, not to mention network and stabilization costs. The state cannot act alone, but it must set the course, or foreign capital will go elsewhere.
Billions of Dollars in Investments Under Pressure
Afef Jaafar confirmed that several hundred megawatts are already installed, and new projects are awaiting parliamentary validation. Her message was unambiguous: "It's going to have to accelerate." This phrase sounds like a warning, given the accumulating constraints.
Olfa Chammari estimated the total investment required to be in the tens of billions of dollars by 2030, according to Tunisia's climate commitments. For the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, it's no longer about financing at all costs, but about catalyzing private investment through innovative mechanisms and impact logic. "It's no longer a choice," she said, a phrase repeated like a mantra by several participants.
Europe Changes the Game: Carbon Becomes a Trade Weapon
Rami Elgolli introduced the most immediate geopolitical constraint. The European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is entering a tax phase this year, after a declaratory period. Its scope will expand far beyond the initial six sectors. For Tunisian exporting companies, not decarbonizing means losing market share. The issue is no longer just environmental; it's competitive and diplomatic.
Hajer Chekir (BYD Tunisie) offered a often-overlooked insight: electric vehicles are not only a tool for decarbonizing transportation but also a storage solution capable of stabilizing the entire electrical network. She praised Tunisia's regulatory framework, deemed incentivizing, and noted a real, albeit modest, commercial dynamic.
Coalition or Failure
After the debates, one conviction emerged: the energy transition will not be technocratic or spontaneous. It requires a coalition of action between the state, financial institutions, private operators, and international partners. But more than anything, it requires a political will capable of transforming the strategic imperative into a sovereign choice.
