Author Archives: Ameni Bouafif

The ministries for Energy of Italy, Austria and Germany  have signed a joint letter of political support for the development of a “southern hydrogen corridor” in the European Union and for the respective infrastructure projects to obtain the status of Project of Common Interest (PCI).

Snam, Italy’s gas infrastructure operator, Trans Austria Gasleitung (TAG) and Gas Connect Austria (GCA) in Austria and bayernets in Germany have formed a partnership to develop the SoutH2 Corridor, a hydrogen-ready pipeline corridor connecting North Africa to central Europe and enabling renewable hydrogen produced in the Southern Mediterranean to reach European consumers.

The southern hydrogen corridor (also called “SoutH2 Corridor”) is a 3.300 km dedicated hydrogen-ready pipeline corridor part of the European Hydrogen Backbone. Its development will guarantee security of supply and is crucial for the creation of an interconnected and diversified hydrogen backbone. Furthermore, with a hydrogen import capacity of more than 4 Mtpa (Million tonnes per annum) from North Africa, the corridor could deliver 40% of the REPowerEU import target.

The SoutH2 Corridor is expected to be fully operational as early as 2030.

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The Prime Minister Mrs. Najla Bouden presided on March 22^nd, 2023, at the government palace, a ministerial council to consider the energy sector strategy on the horizon of the year 2035.

This strategy, which was formulated within the framework of a participatory approach between all the involved parties, aims to ensure the supply of safe energy for all and to develop practical measures that will enable the achievement of the goals set in the energy mix, especially the production of electricity from renewable energies, in addition to achieving carbon neutrality for the National economy by 2050.

The Tunisian energy strategy on the horizon of the year 2035 also took into account the commitments of the Tunisian state in the medium and long term, in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change, and is based on a vision that combines energy, climate, economy and society.

During this session, special programs related to energy efficiency and sobriety were discussed by reviewing the regulatory framework for energy efficiency and the interventions of the Energy Transition Fund, in addition to presenting a roadmap for developing the production of green hydrogen and its derivatives in Tunisia.

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The Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Mrs. Neila Nouira Gonji, received the Director of Neighbourhood and Enlargement Policy of the European Commission, Mr. Gerl Jan Koopman, who was on a working visit to Tunisia accompanying with a high-level delegation, on Tuesday evening, March 21^st, at the Ministry’s headquarters.

The meeting, which was attended by the Ambassador of the European Union to Tunisia, Mr. Marcos Cornaro, was an opportunity to discuss ways of cooperation and partnership with the European Union, especially in the sectors of electricity transmission, energy and renewable energies. The level of progress in the completion of the electrical interconnection project between Tunisia and Italy “ELMED” was also discussed.

The minister noted the strength of Tunisian-European relations, rooted for decades, and the role of the union in supporting the national economy, stressing the availability of capabilities, competencies and specialized manpower, as well as the technological and energy infrastructure necessary to establish major projects in our country, especially in the fields of electricity transmission and the production of renewable energies.

She reviewed the national program for the promotion of renewable energies aimed at producing 35% of electricity from renewable energies by the year 2030, noting the launch of tenders related to the production of 1,700 MW of electricity from solar photovoltaic energy within the framework of the concession regime.

It has also been reported that studies have been launched to achieve a centre of excellence in renewable energies in the field of training and research in southern Tunisia, with the aim of training executives at the national and African levels and accompanying energy transition projects.

For his end, Mr. Gerl Jan Koopman affirmed that the partnership with Tunisia is profitable for both parties. He also expressed the European Union’s readiness to develop bilateral cooperation in the field of green hydrogen and to support and train the specialized workforce of engineers and executives in various specializations under the Ministry’s consideration.

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