The Confederation of Tunisian Citizen Enterprises (CONECT) held the National Conference on Renewable Energy on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, under the theme: “Renewable Energy Projects under the Licensing System: Current Framework, Challenges, and Improvement Prospects.”
The president of GPER (Professional Group for Renewable Energies at CONECT), Sadok Besbes, emphasized that the event is part of a consultative approach between public and private actors in the sector.
He added that the licensing regime for renewable energy is crucial to reinvigorate the sector and encourage investors to increase their investments in Tunisia, noting that several companies are interested in investing in this field.
For his part, Aslan Ben Rejeb, president of CONECT, explained that the focus on discussions regarding the granting of licenses for renewable energy (RE) projects, particularly legal and financial aspects, stems from the critical role these projects play in accelerating the energy transition, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in regional areas.
These discussions coincide with the launch by the Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Mines of a fifth cycle of licensing for such projects.
He highlighted that Tunisia’s energy deficit can be overcome and transformed into an opportunity to move from being an energy importer to a producer and exporter.
He reaffirmed CONECT’s commitment to collaborating with state institutions to achieve energy parity and encourage SMEs to produce energy, notably through projects with capacities ranging from 1 to 100 megawatts in regional areas, thereby contributing to the national energy transition.
He also emphasized the support Tunisia receives from European and other economic partners through multiple initiatives, including the MED project.
Ben Rejeb stressed that for the private sector to fully engage in energy production, it needs encouragement from the Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Mines, particularly through accelerated procedures and a clear strategic vision.
A profitable opportunity
Minister of Industry, Mines, and Energy, Fatma Thabet Chiboub, announced the granting of 187 licenses for renewable energy projects.
She explained that the goal is to support industrial and service companies that rely on renewable energy to meet their energy needs. The minister noted that this licensing system is the largest in the country, offering SMEs in the industrial and service sectors the opportunity to produce their own energy and establish companies for energy production and sales.
Chiboub emphasized that investing in the energy sector represents a profitable opportunity for the state, the national economy, and private operators.
She added that the licensing system is not limited to supporting large industrial projects but also aims to foster the emergence of SMEs specializing in the production and commercialization of green electricity.
