“Tunisia could become a platform for energy export to Europe,” president of the Tunisia-Africa Business Council (TABC) Anis Jaziri said Saturday at a seminar themed “A look into the future: an energy transition for a sustainable development linking Africa and Europe.”
“Tunisia’s strategic proximity to Italy and energy-abundant African countries, such as Algeria, Libya and Nigeria, and the energy crisis faced by Europe due to the Russian-Ukrainian war offer an opportunity to make the country an energy route linking the two continents,” he added.
“Europe is seeking new energy sources and Tunisia should position itself on this new energy route,” particularly as the European Union approved a financial support of €307.6 million to the €840-million electricity interconnection project between Tunisia and Italy “ELMED.”
The conference is held in cooperation with the Choiseul Institute (French think-tank dedicated to the analysis of contemporary strategic issues) and the Business France agency. It aims to examine the best ways to position Tunisia on the Africa-Europe energy map and to develop a common vision for cooperation in the energy field between the two continents.
Jaziri announced the creation of a new TABC office in Paris to promote tripartite cooperation between Tunisia, Europe and Africa, especially since TABC’s ambition is to make Tunisia the gateway to Africa and a platform for joint investments linking the countries of both shores.
Former minister and High Representative of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) for Africa and the Middle East Nidhal Ouerfelli told TAP the objective behind this conference is to present a new vision of the energy transition in Tunisia, in collaboration with French partners.
“The State, alone, could not meet the new challenges that weigh on the energy sector, which requires developing cooperation with Europe and Africa in this field and diversifying energy sources in the country.”
A partnership agreement between the TABC and the Tunisian-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CTFCI) was inked on the occasion. It provides for promoting a tripartite cooperation between Tunisia, France and Africa and coaching more than 1,000 French companies established in Tunisia on the sub-Saharan markets.
Source: Tap News Agency