Tunisia’s electricity sector saw natural gas solidify its dominance in 2025, even as renewable energy sources retreated in the generation mix despite a double-digit increase in installed clean-energy capacity, according to new data from the Energy Research Unit.
Total electricity demand rose 3.8% year-on-year to 24.9 terawatt-hours (TWh), up from 24 TWh in 2024.
Gas-fired generation accounted for 94.9% of the country’s power output in 2025, a slight increase from 94.5% the previous year.
Combined fossil fuels (gas and oil) made up 96% of the mix, compared with 95.6% in 2024. While the gas share edged up, the average over the past two years remains the lowest since 2015, when gas stood at 92.3%.
Renewable share declines
The share of clean energy in Tunisia’s electricity generation fell to 4.03% in 2025, down from 4.4% a year earlier. Solar, the largest renewable source, dipped to 2.52% from 2.62%, while wind dropped to 1.5% from roughly 1.73%. Hydropower remained negligible at 0.04%, versus 0.05% in 2024.
The decline came despite an 11% jump in installed renewable capacity, which reached 1.21 gigawatts (GW) by the end of 2025. Solar capacity led the expansion, climbing to 895 megawatts.
Wind power, however, has been virtually flat since 2018, stuck at around 245 MW with no major new projects coming online.
Business implications
Tunisia’s continued heavy reliance on imported gas exposes the country to fuel price volatility and supply risks, while the underperformance of renewables – capacity growing faster than actual generation – points to possible grid integration challenges or curtailment issues.
The data underscores a slow energy transition despite policy ambitions. With fossil fuels still commanding a 96% share, investors and developers may see limited near-term opportunities for utility-scale wind, though solar remains the government’s preferred growth area.
The stagnation in wind capacity since 2018 highlights a need for fresh project tenders and tariff reforms to attract private capital.
— Reporting based on Energy Research Unit data
