Tunisia Opens 200 MW Solar Call to Private Developers

Tunisia just opened the door for private developers to build solar power plants across the country, and it's a big step toward a cleaner energy future for the North African nation.

The Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy launched a call for 200 megawatts worth of solar projects under its sixth licensing round. Companies can submit proposals from April 15 to June 15 to build and operate facilities that will sell electricity directly to STEG, Tunisia's state utility.

This isn't Tunisia's first solar rodeo. The country has been steadily building its renewable energy infrastructure, and the progress shows. Tunisia now has nearly 729 megawatts of operational solar capacity, with Dubai-based Amea Power recently switching on a 120 megawatt facility that became the country's largest solar project to date.

The timing couldn't be better. Just last month, Tunisian authorities launched a tender for an even bigger project: a 300 megawatt solar farm paired with a massive battery storage system. In March, the government also granted licenses for four utility-scale projects combining for 500 megawatts of new capacity.

Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, though developers will need to ensure their projects can connect to the country's high-voltage and medium-voltage power lines. The ministry is carefully managing how much new capacity the existing grid can handle at each connection point.

The Ripple Effect

Tunisia's solar buildout represents more than just clean energy infrastructure. It's creating opportunities for private investment in a region hungry for economic development while reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports. As more projects come online, the country moves closer to energy independence and the jobs that come with building and maintaining these facilities.

With projects totaling nearly 1 gigawatt either operational or in the pipeline, Tunisia is positioning itself as a North African leader in solar energy. That success could inspire neighboring countries to accelerate their own renewable transitions.

The country is proving that consistent, methodical progress adds up to transformational change in the energy sector.