Tunisia’s Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy has awarded contracts to developers for 309 solar projects, with a cumulative capacity of 455 MW, under the sixth round of the country’s renewable energy authorization regime.

The selected projects comprise 187 projects of 1 MW each, 119 projects of 2 MW each, and three of 10 MW each.

The awarded capacity is more than double the 200 MW initially sought under the round.

The projects are located across several governorates, including Gafsa, Sidi Bouzid, Tataouine, Kairouan, Médenine, Kébili, Sousse, Sfax, Kasserine, Kef, Gabès, Tozeur, Zaghouan, Monastir, and Ben Arous.

A consortium led by Serrano Pindea Alejandro, comprising Bombeatec Tunisia, Bombeatec SL, and other partners, was selected to develop a 10 MW project in Gabès Ouest.

Another 10 MW project was awarded to Tuntec and Catalys MENA Climate Fund 2GP SARL at Metouia, Gabès. A consortium comprising Stram, Stramplus, Stram PV, and Stram Eng was selected for another 10 MW project at the same location.

The official list also includes several other projects in the Gabès region, including projects by Chamsya and Enervivo, each with a capacity of 2 MW in Metouia.

Geographic Spread

The sixth round has a broad geographic distribution, with many projects located in Tunisia’s southern and central regions.

Several projects have been selected in Kébili, including developments at Douz, Jemna, Kébili Sud, Kébili Nord, and Faouar. The Ministry’s list also shows multiple projects in Gafsa, including Gafsa Nord, Gafsa Sud, Metlaoui, El Gsar, Sidi Aich, Om Larayes, and Redeyef.

Sidi Bouzid is another major project location, with installations planned in Sidi Ali Ben Aoun, Lassouda, Bir El Hafey, Menzel Bouzaiene, Ouled Haffouz, and other areas. The list includes 1 MW projects by Majid Raddaoui in Menzel Bouzaiene and Romdhania Derbeli, Salah Derbeli, and Ridha Derbeli in Bir El Hafey.

The Ministry also selected projects ranging from 1 MW to 2 MW in Tozeur, including Chebbia and Nefta.

The applicable tariffs are TND0.217 (~$0.074)/kWh for projects up to 1 MW, TND0.201 (~$0.069)/kWh for projects up to 2 MW, and TND0.142 (~$0.049)/kWh for projects between 2 MW and 10 MW.

Tunisia’s authorization regime allows private developers to build renewable energy projects and sell the electricity to the state utility. Under this framework, solar projects of up to 10 MW can be developed.

In March, Tunisia’s Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy invited bids to develop a 300 MW solar power project with a 150 MW/540 MWh battery energy storage system. The project will be developed under a concession agreement on a 440-hectare plot of land in Bazma, Kebili governorate.