The new energy strategy for 2035 aims primarily to provide Tunisia with a secure, accessible and affordable energy supply, said Minister of Industry, Mines and energy, Neila Gongi.
Speaking at the National Conference on «the Energy Strategy of Tunisia by 2035» held Friday in Tunis, the Minister underlined that this strategy (an updated version of the one developed in 2016) is part of a vision which consists of addressing the issue of short-term energy security from a long-term perspective geared towards a sustainable energy model.
Tunisia is seeking to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 in accordance with its commitment under the Paris Agreement, the same source said.
The National Energy Strategy, which was developed in collaboration the United Nations programme for Development (UNDP), is Tunisia’s roadmap, the minister reiterated, adding that it is based on a vision that combines energy, climate, economic and social issues.
More particularly, the strategy has 4 major goals, namely achieving the security of energy supply, the decarbonization of the economy, economic development and ensuring a socially just, inclusive transition which creates jobs and wealth and gender equality.
Gongi said the successful implementation of this strategy depends on the implication of all stakeholders, including the public sector, the private sector as well as financial bodies.
Introducing the energy strategy outlines, expert Rafik Missaoui highlighted that in order to achieve the goal of security of energy supply, it is necessary to control the demand for primary energy (a reduction in primary energy by 30% in 2030 and 37% in 2035), consolidate renewable energy programmes as well as set conditions conducive to the development of new energy transition technologies, particularly green hydrogen.
With regard to the decarbonisation of the energy sector, which is part of a long-term perspective targeting carbon neutrality, the strategy aims to reduce CO2 emissions from the energy sector by 36% in 2030 and 46% in 2035 and drop energy intensity at an average annual rate of 3.6%.
The strategy also provides for the installation of a renewable energy capacity of 8350 MW by 2035 for the production of electricity.
At the social level, the implementation of this strategy is expected to create 70,000 jobs by 2035, including over 30,000 direct jobs and the rest will be shared out between indirect jobs and jobs induced by the increase in the level of household consumption, the expert emphasised.
Missaoui pointed out that the reform measures are designed to facilitate the implementation of the investments required by the energy strategy, including basically the consolidation of the sector’s financial sustainability (reform of the energy tariff system, etc.) and the revival of hydrocarbon production (revision of the hydrocarbons code, repositioning of ETAP).
Tunisia should serve as a strategic supplier of green hydrogen for Europe, which requires nearly 20 million tonnes in 2030, including 10 million tonnes from imports.
It should also position on the national and international markets of ammonia, methanol and green synthetic fuels, the expert added.
The National Conference on: “The Energy Strategy of Tunisia by 2035” is organised by the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy in collaboration with the UNDP. It was attended by ministers of economy and planning and transport and business leaders, representatives of national and international organisations and high-level officials from Tunisia and abroad.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse