Tunisia electricity production rises 6% amid growing energy deficit

Tunisia's national electricity production rose by 6% during the first seven months of 2026, reaching 12,333 GWh. This growth was largely driven by a 61% surge in renewable energy production from solar and wind sources, which now account for 9% of the national electricity mix. Key contributors include large-scale infrastructure such as the 100 MW Kairouan plant and the Sidi Bouzid and Tozeur plants.

Despite the rise in renewables, the country faces a widening primary energy deficit, which reached 3.8 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtep), a 9% increase year-on-year. Energy independence has declined to 34%, down from 37% the previous year. This decline is attributed to a 6% drop in primary energy resources, primarily due to reduced domestic production of crude oil and LPG. While renewable electricity production is growing rapidly, hydrocarbons still dominate the energy landscape, with oil and gas representing 71% of primary energy resources.