The results of the working visit of a team from the World Bank Group (WB) to Tunisia from March 21 to 30 were presented on Thursday to prepare the financing plan for the electrical interconnection project between Tunisia and Italy (ELMED) and the contractual documents for the implementation of this project.
The Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Neila Nouira Gongi, held a meeting with this World Bank team in the presence of the Resident Representative of the World Bank in Tunisia, Alexandre Arrobio, and a team from the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company (STEG) in charge of the interconnection project.
The “ELMED” project, with an investment cost of 800 million euros (equivalent to 2,544.24 million dinars) and scheduled to be operational in 2027, will enable the construction of a 200 km high-voltage submarine link between Tunisia and Italy.
“ELMED” is also part of a Euro-Mediterranean electricity network linking Europe and North African countries. It consists of the installation of a 600 MW high-voltage direct current submarine cable between Tunisia (Cap Bon) and Italy (Sicily).
Once completed, this project will enable Tunisia to meet its energy needs and export the surplus to the European market.
The World Bank, on September 13, 2018 granted Tunisia $12.5 million to ensure the financing of technical studies related to the “ELMED” project.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP)