500 MW Solar Plant Being Planned For Tunisia

• TuNur has proposed to develop a 500 MW solar power plant in Tunisia with export orientation
• The $1.5 billion facility is intended to be located in the Governorates of Kebili and Gabes
• TuNur is already invested in a 10 MW solar power plant in Gabes that's due for commercial operations by the end of 2022

Tunisia headquartered renewable energy and green hydrogen developer with British roots and a focus on Tunisia and the Mediterranean region, TuNur Ltd has proposed to develop a 500 MW 'export-oriented' solar power plant in Tunisia for an investment worth $1.5 billion.

According to a report by Tunisian state news agency TAP, the company has zeroed in on Governorates of Kebili and Gabes to locate the solar power project, but it did not specify the export destination/s.

TuNur's CEO Daniel Rich shared these plans with the country's Minister of Economy and Planning Samir Saied during a recent meeting. The British company is reportedly eying Tunisia for the 'incentives' offered by the government in the field and its focus on green economy.

Tunisia promised to provide needed support and assistance to efforts aimed at diversifying the country's energy resources that can be used locally as well as for export purposes.

TuNur is already developing a 10 MW solar power plant in partnership with Erebus Investment and Shanghai Electric in Gabes, awarded by the Tunisian Ministry of Energy, Mines and Energy Transition as part of a 70 MW solar tender in June 2020 (see TND 0.12539/kWh Lowest Winning Bid In Tunisia Tender). This facility is scheduled to come online by the end of 2022 and connect to the national grid.

In June 2022, Tunisia became home to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region's maiden floating solar power plant with 200 kW capacity (see Tunisia Switches On 200 kW Floating Solar Plant).

According to TuNur's website, it aims to grow its renewables portfolio comprising solar PV, solar CSP, transmission and green hydrogen projects to 12 GW installed capacity by 2030. It intends to use Tunisia as its base for further expansion in the region, to Algeria, Libya, West Africa and Middle East.