En Français Tunisia has started production at the long-awaited Nawara gas field, a development that is expected to transform the country’s energy balance and provide a significant boon to state finances. Production began at the field, located in the southern governorate of Tataouine, in early February. The launch was the culmination of a decade-long process: the reserves were first discovered…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
Tunisia is the smallest country in North Africa with an area of 163,610 sq km and is also the northernmost country in Africa. It borders Algeria to the west, Libya to the south and east, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. With over 1000 km of coastline, it has a strong tradition of commerce and openness to the wider Mediterranean region. The country also holds a strategic position as a bridge
In English La Tunisie cherche à accroître les investissements étrangers dans son secteur des énergies renouvelables dans le cadre d’une stratégie de diversification de son bouquet énergétique et de réduction de la dépendance du pays aux importations d’hydrocarbures. Slim Feriani, le Ministre de l’Industrie et des PME, a annoncé mi-janvier que le pays visait à attirer 2 milliards…
