Deal with France strengthens Tunisia’s energy security
Tunisia and France have strengthened their industrial cooperation as a project to increase Tunisia’s energy security continues, reports Tunisie Numerique on September 11.
The meeting, which occurred in the afternoon of September 11, was attended by Tunisian Minister Fatma Thabet Chiboub and Philippe Orliange, Executive Director of the French Development Agency, in the presence of France’s Ambassador to Tunisia, Anne Guéguen.
At the meeting, the two nations reviewed the status of collaborative projects already underway so their implementation could be accelerated. Both sides highlighted the significance of adhering to the agreed-upon timelines to achieve their jointly set industrial development goals.
Discussions were mainly centred around the intelligent electricity network, or “Smart Grid” project. The rollout of this project is set to greatly improve Tunisia’s energy infrastructure by improving its distribution efficiency and supporting the shift toward more sustainable solutions.
The project will be overseen by the Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas.
In July, Tunisia was hit by a series of power outages after Algerian gas, which Tunisia’s power grids depend upon, came under domestic strain.
The outages led Mohamed Ali Fenira, a member of the Industry Committee in the Assembly of People’s Representatives, to remark that Tunisia’s energy output does not meet its national demand – demonstrating the importance of the “smart grid” project.
The “Smart Grid” Project will be complemented by the clean energy deal Tunisia also made with the UK in July. The project will fit boats with generators to produce renewable energy for the Tunisian people.
The conversations between Tunisia and France have also paved the way for further collaborative projects for the two nations. At the talks, Minister Chiboub stressed the need for stronger mobilisation to quicken the implementation of projects.
Philippe Orliange reiterated the French Development Agency’s desire to bolster its support for Tunisia, particularly in modernisation and industrial efforts.
Overall, the talks mark the significance of the Tunisia-France relationship, which seeks to improve both nations’ industrial markets and energy security.
Tunisie Numerique, Maghrebi.org
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