Tunisia's STEG imposes load shedding as heatwave strains grid

The Tunisian electricity and gas company (STEG) announced intermittent power cuts across dozens of regions on 17 July 2026, scheduled between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The cuts are a response to a surge in demand of roughly 30 % that pushed consumption to near 5 GW, exceeding the grid’s capacity of about 4.6 GW. Officials warned that without rotating outages the network could collapse.

Economists estimate that prolonged load shedding could cost the economy up to 50 million Tunisian dinars, with each unserved kilowatt‑hour representing a loss of 4‑5 dinars. Industry groups report that factories are incurring significant losses, production stoppages, and equipment wear, and they are calling for a clear schedule of outages and possible exemptions for industrial zones.

Separately, the professional renewable‑energy grouping (CONECT) urged the national energy agency (ANME) and STEG to fast‑track technical and regulatory frameworks for domestic solar‑plus‑battery storage. The group recommends tariff exemptions on batteries and a reduction of customs duties to encourage households and businesses to adopt storage, which could lessen the impact of future cuts.