Tunisia seeks to cut peak electricity demand by 300 MW ahead of summer

The Tunisian Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy has announced a programme aimed at reducing electricity demand during the upcoming summer, from 6,000 MW to 5,700 MW, freeing up 300 MW of capacity. The initiative will focus on managing consumption by encouraging industrial facilities to adjust their working hours and avoid peak demand periods, according to the Minister. Additional measures include equipping gas turbines with cooling systems to increase their output during peak hours, as well as providing support to small-scale investors developing solar power generation projects.

Meanwhile, the national utility STEG has launched a tender for battery storage projects with a combined capacity of 300 MW/600 MWh to be installed across ten sites, including four in the north of the country at Ben Arous, Gaâfour, Mateur and Kchabta (combined capacity of 105 MW/210 MWh), three in central Tunisia at Msaken, Ksour Essef et Bir Lahfey (combined capacity of 90 MW/180 MWh), and three in the south at Gabès Sud, Médenine and Midoun (combined capacity of 105 MW/210 MWh). Half of the capacity (150 MW/300 MWh) is expected to be commissioned before the summer 2027.

Tunisia remained a net electricity exporter until 2021, when it shifted to becoming a net importer. In 2025, electricity imports reached 2.2 TWh, primarily sourced from Algeria, while exports remained limited to 0.1 TWh (Enerdata Global Energy Research). The country is increasingly reliant on electricity imports, particularly during the summer months when demand surges, resulting in regular power cuts. Tunisia experienced significant electricity outages during the summer of 2026, amid exceptionally high temperatures.