General view of the Avenue Bourguiba in central Tunis
TUNIS, May 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tunisia plans to launch international tenders in June this year seeking offers to build 2,000 megawatts of renewable electric power capacity, energy minister Naila Nouira said, part of efforts to cut the country’s natural gas imports.
Tunisia, which is facing a financial and political crisis, is trying to attract foreign investments in the energy sector.
The country in March granted licenses to three international companies to produce 500 megawatts of electricity from renewables.
Tunisia’s bill for gas purchases from Algerian gas company Sonatrach may reach $1.5 billion this year and the total bill will be $2.6 billion, including purchases from domestic gas producers, an energy ministry official said. This is up from $1.5 billion last year.
The country aims to produce 30 percent of electricity from renewables by 2030, prime minister Najla Bouden said this year. — NNN-AGENCIES
