Tunisia Launches First Solar Project to Power Highway Network

Tunisia is set to launch its first solar power production project, designed to energize the country's highway network. This initiative is a key component of Tunisia's broader energy transition strategy, as announced by project officials during a field visit to the Oued Zarga station in the Beja governorate.

The project officially begins following a partnership agreement signed on July 13 between the National Agency for Energy Management (ANME) and Tunisie Autoroutes. Nafaâ Bakkari, Director General of ANME, stated that the agency will provide technical and financial support to Tunisie Autoroutes through the Energy Transition Fund. This cooperation also encompasses energy conservation awareness campaigns and the development of electric mobility and charging infrastructure.

Ahmed Ezzeddine, Chairman and CEO of Tunisie Autoroutes, detailed that the initial project will be established on a five-to-six-hectare site in Oued Zarga. Its aim is to significantly cover the company's energy needs, with plans to extend the initiative to other locations across the highway network. The program also incorporates the installation of energy-saving equipment, smart consumption management systems, and the modernization of public lighting.

Both Ezzeddine and Bakkari emphasized the critical need to develop a national network of electric vehicle charging stations along the country's highways. This focus on renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure signals Tunisia's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and modernizing its energy sector.