Tunisia approves 309 solar projects totaling 455 MW

Tunisia’s Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy has approved 309 solar photovoltaic projects with a total capacity of 455 MW. This announcement follows the sixth round of the country’s authorization regime, which was heavily oversubscribed after the initial tender sought only 200 MW.

The approved projects consist of 187 units of 1 MW, 119 units of 2 MW, and three units of 10 MW. These projects are designed for small and medium-sized enterprises, landowners, and small investors. Under this regulatory framework, all electricity produced will be sold exclusively to the state-owned utility, Société tunisienne de l'électricité et du gaz (STEG).

Tariffs for the electricity are set based on plant size. Pre-tax rates are approximately 217 millimes/kWh (€0.074/kWh) for plants up to 1 MW, 201 millimes/kWh (€0.059/kWh) for plants up to 2 MW, and 142 millimes/kWh (€0.042/kWh) for projects between 2 and 10 MW.