Elmed project advances to connect Tunisia and Italy via undersea cable

The Elmed electrical interconnection project, designed to link Tunisia and Italy across the Strait of Sicily, has entered a decisive implementation phase. The project involves a bidirectional electrical link with a capacity of 600 megawatts and an estimated total cost of 1.42 billion euros.

Major contracts have been awarded for the project's core components. Hitachi Energy has been contracted by the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company (Steg) and the Italian operator Terna to build two conversion stations in Mlaabi, Tunisia, and Partanna, Sicily, for approximately 770 million euros. Additionally, the Italian group Prysmian has been awarded a contract worth roughly 460 million euros to install the 200-kilometer undersea cable.

The initiative aims to facilitate the export of renewable energy and enhance energy security for both Tunisia and the European Union. A second phase, Elmed II, will focus on strengthening Tunisia's national grid to integrate new renewable energy sources and transport electricity from central and southern regions to the north. Commissioning is currently projected to occur between 2028 and 2030.