The Tunisian government expects the country to produce approximately 25% of its energy output with renewable energy projects by 2020. New projects - mainly wind and solar - with a combined capacity of 1,000 MW worth TND2.5bn (US$836m) should be commissioned by 2020.
In the framework of the 2016-2030 solar plan, the Tunisian Parliament adopted in 2015 a law on renewable power generation aimed at covering 12% by 2020 and 30% by 2030 of its power mix with renewables (corresponding to a capacity of 3.8 GW and an investment of US$7.1bn between 2016 and 2030.
A renewable tender was launched in May 2018 for the construction of five solar parks totalling 500 MW in five regions: 200 MW in Borj Bourguiba (province of Tataouine), two 100 MW facilities in the provinces of Kairouan and Gafsa, and two 50 MW solar parks in the provinces of Sidi Bouzid and Tozeur. As for wind projects, the tender proposed 500 MW, including a 200 MW project in Jbel Abdherrahmane (Nabeul governorate) and a 100 MW project at Jbel Tbaga (Kebili governorate). The remaining 200 MW will consist of projects with capacities of up to 100 MW on sites proposed by interested bidders. In November 2018, the government issued a list of the pre-qualified companies that submitted an offer for the ongoing solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind first round tender processes. 28 consortia have been selected and the chosen bidders will be awarded a 20-year concession (Build, Own and Operate scheme) and the right to sign a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the state-run utility STEG.
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