Tunisia: Class 1 air conditioners at Class 3 prices through a subsidy mechanism

Tunisia is set to introduce a new initiative to enhance household energy efficiency by making top-performing air conditioners more accessible. Nafâa Baccari, Director General of the National Energy Management Agency (ANME), announced that the program will allow consumers to purchase Class 1 air conditioners at the price of Class 3 units.

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Concretely, the consumer will be able to acquire a Class 1 air conditioner at the price of a Class 3 appliance, while the supplier will be reimbursed for the price difference through this subsidy mechanism.

This mechanism, funded by the Energy Transition Fund managed by ANME, aims to bridge the price gap between more energy-efficient models and the currently more common, but significantly more energy-consuming, Class 3 appliances. "Concretely, the consumer will be able to acquire a Class 1 air conditioner at the price of a Class 3 appliance, while the supplier will be reimbursed for the price difference through this subsidy mechanism," Baccari explained.

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These devices exist in different energy classes, but it should be recalled that particularly energy-intensive categories, especially devices from class 4 to 8, have been banned from commercialization.

The measure comes as Tunisia faces high demand on its national electricity grid, particularly during the summer months when air conditioner usage surges. Currently, approximately 2.5 million air conditioners are in operation across the country. ANME data indicates that while older, highly energy-intensive models (Classes 4 to 8) have been banned from sale, a significant portion of existing units are less efficient.

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The consumption difference between a Class 1 air conditioner and a Class 3 model can reach about 30%, which has a direct impact on household energy bills.

Baccari highlighted that the energy consumption difference between a Class 1 and a Class 3 air conditioner can be as high as 30%, directly impacting household energy bills. The initiative is currently undergoing approval and is part of a broader energy transition strategy. It exclusively targets new equipment purchases, promoting a gradual renewal of the national air conditioning stock towards greater energy efficiency.

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Concretely, the citizen will be able to directly purchase a Class 1 air conditioner at the market price of a Class 3 air conditioner, while the supplier will be reimbursed for the subsidy from ANME.