Energy
From The Report: Tunisia 2019
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Efforts to overhaul the country’s hydrocarbons regulations, however, have been stymied by political instability, while the development of energy projects has been slowed by social unrest across the country. A revised hydrocarbons code has yet to be passed by Parliament and the question of whether to tap into non-traditional oil and gas reservoirs has increasingly become a key issue of debate. Despite the challenges, progress in diversifying the energy mix has seen the state issue a host of international tenders aimed at attracting contractors into a new renewable energy programme. This is expected to help the country achieve its goal of having renewable sources account for 30% of the energy mix by 2030. This chapter contains interviews with Slim Feriani, Minister of Industry and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises; and Moncef Harrabi, CEO, Tunisian Company for Electricity and Gas.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Mixing it up: Domestic energy production is set to get a boost from new projects
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Without the vast hydrocarbons riches of its regional neighbours, Tunisia has relied heavily on policy decisions to maintain energy security. Nonetheless the country has been able to profit from its modest oil and gas reserves, especially with regard to the offshore Hasdrubal and Miskar fields in the Gulf of Gabès, which represent 65% of Tunisia’s annual gas production. While such reserves have been critical for the country’s development, sector activity has declined since 2008. Although…

Interview

Creating a balance: Slim Feriani, Minister of Industry and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, on the country’s strategy to reduce the energy deficit
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Interview: Slim Feriani What steps are currently being taken to help Tunisia meet its energy needs? SLIM FERIANI: Oil exports has historically been a key contributor to the economy, but in recent years the country has diversified into different sectors. In the 1990s oil represented 50% of foreign revenue, whereas manufactured goods now account for 90% of overall Tunisian exports. The energy deficit we are currently experiencing is a consequence of falling local production and rising local consumption,…

Analysis

Sun, wind and water: Renewable sources work to diversify electricity generation
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Despite depending heavily on gas-fired electricity production, declining productivity at key fields and rising energy imports from Algeria have prompted Tunisia to turn to renewables. The government has set out objectives to encourage development, including increasing the contribution of renewable energy to 30% of the energy mix by 2030. This is arguably an ambitious objective, especially considering that in 2016 renewable sources accounted for 3% of total electricity production. However,…

Interview

Stronger and greener: Moncef Harrabi, CEO, Tunisian Company for Electricity and Gas, on increasing the country’s production capacity and reducing energy bills for businesses and consumers
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Interview:Moncef Harrabi In what ways is the country’s electricity and gas infrastructure being developed? MONCEF HARRABI: Tunisia has achieved electricity coverage of 99.99% and we now want to ensure the same level of distribution for natural gas. At the moment we have a project to develop a pipeline in the industrial and tourist cities of Djerba, Tataouine and Zarzis, given that natural gas plays an important role in wealth creation. Without foreign investment this infrastructure cannot…

Overview

As costs decline, renewable sources are seeing an inexorable rise,: particularly among developing economies Cheaper and greener – Tunisia
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Although the world remains largely dependent upon fossil fuels for power generation, a gradual transition towards renewable sources has been taking place since the 1990s, underpinned by multilateral deals such as the Kyoto Protocol, the Doha Amendment and, more recently, the Paris Agreement. Investment and development in renewable technologies has historically been led by developed countries, however, in recent years the renewable energy industry has expanded in emerging markets. In 2018 these markets accounted for nearly 70% of new global investment in renewables. Taking the Lead Emerging markets exceeded developed economies in terms…