Tunisia has commissioned a new high- and medium-voltage electricity substation in the Zaafrana area of Kairouan South, a strategic investment aimed at improving grid reliability, supporting economic activity and strengthening power supply during periods of peak summer demand.
The facility, inaugurated on July 13, was developed by the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company (STEG) at a cost of approximately TND 24–25 million.
Connected to the Msaken 2 substation, the new installation began technical testing in early July ahead of its commissioning. It enters service with an initial capacity of around 10 megawatts (MW), which will be progressively expanded to an estimated 80 MW.
The project is expected to enhance the stability of electricity supply across several parts of Kairouan Governorate, particularly during periods of high seasonal consumption.
It will serve the delegations of Bouhajla, Nasrallah, Menzel Mhiri, Cherarda and Kairouan South.
Supporting agriculture and regional economic activity
Beyond improving electricity service for households, the Zaafrana substation is expected to provide critical support for the region’s productive sectors.
Greater network capacity will help meet the growing electricity needs of agricultural operations, industrial facilities and other businesses that rely heavily on a stable power supply.
In Kairouan, where agriculture remains a key pillar of the local economy, reliable electricity is essential for irrigation systems, pumping stations, cold storage facilities and agricultural processing plants. Frequent outages and voltage fluctuations had previously disrupted these operations.
The commissioning of the new substation is therefore expected to improve grid reliability, reduce voltage drops and power cuts, and provide a more dependable electricity supply for both households and businesses.
First completed project in a wider national program
The Zaafrana substation forms part of a national STEG program to build 17 electricity substations across Tunisia as part of the country’s efforts to modernize its power transmission network and strengthen energy security.
Construction and equipment contracts for the project were signed in 2020, but commissioning was delayed by disruptions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain constraints resulting from the war in Ukraine, which affected the availability of electrical equipment, industrial components and construction materials.
Following several postponements, the facility has now entered phased commercial operation.
The Zaafrana project is the first completed substation under the nationwide program, with additional projects planned in Ben Guerdane (Medenine) and Bir Chaâbane (Kasserine) as Tunisia continues to expand and modernize its electricity infrastructure.
