The realization of the Tunisian Solar Plan (2016/2030) requires almost 15 billion dinars, i.e. EUR 6.3 billion of Tunisian public and private investment as well as foreign investment, according to the Ministry of Energy and Mining.
The Tunisian Solar Plan is a tool to achieve an energy transfer to establish a link between the production of electricity from renewable energy and saving electricity at times of peak consumption, in addition to changes in electricity production systems from renewable energy sources.
The plan will allow an estimated energy saving of 16 million tons oil equivalent (toe), i.e. 1.5% of the annual domestic consumption.
The Ministry of Energy and Mining is now working on the achievement of the Tunisian Solar Plan aims to reach 12% of electricity production from renewable energy sources (sun, wind) by 2020 and a 30% rate in 2030.
To achieve these objectives the Ministry of Energy and Mining has developed the implementing regulations of Law No. 12 of 2015 concerning the production of electricity from renewable energy sources.
The recent Cabinet meeting, held on 13 July 2016, adopted all the regulatory texts that consist essentially of the implementing decree fixing the criteria and measures to achieve electricity generation projects from renewable energies, development of specifications for the national electricity network connection and pilot contracts for the sale of electricity to the Tunisian electricity and gas company (STEG).
The Ministry is currently preparing the next steps in implementing the production of electricity through renewable energy, like the annual announcement of the generating capacity to install, the establishment of the purchase price of electricity produced as part of the authorization system, preparation of the procedures manual and tender, the formation of the technical commission and of the panel and then the development of the five-year national plan for renewable energy.
It should be noted that, according to the ministry, several investment applications in this area have reached the department even before the adoption of implementing legislation, including increased interest by the German authorities for investment in renewable energy and the creation and funding of pilot projects and other joint ones.
