The Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Mrs. Neila Nouira Gonji, received the Director of Neighbourhood and Enlargement Policy of the European Commission, Mr. Gerl Jan Koopman, who was on a working visit to Tunisia accompanying with a high-level delegation, on Tuesday evening, March 21st, at the Ministry’s headquarters.
The meeting, which was attended by the Ambassador of the European Union to Tunisia, Mr. Marcos Cornaro, was an opportunity to discuss ways of cooperation and partnership with the European Union, especially in the sectors of electricity transmission, energy and renewable energies. The level of progress in the completion of the electrical interconnection project between Tunisia and Italy “ELMED” was also discussed.
The minister noted the strength of Tunisian-European relations, rooted for decades, and the role of the union in supporting the national economy, stressing the availability of capabilities, competencies and specialized manpower, as well as the technological and energy infrastructure necessary to establish major projects in our country, especially in the fields of electricity transmission and the production of renewable energies.
She reviewed the national program for the promotion of renewable energies aimed at producing 35% of electricity from renewable energies by the year 2030, noting the launch of tenders related to the production of 1,700 MW of electricity from solar photovoltaic energy within the framework of the concession regime.
It has also been reported that studies have been launched to achieve a centre of excellence in renewable energies in the field of training and research in southern Tunisia, with the aim of training executives at the national and African levels and accompanying energy transition projects.
For his end, Mr. Gerl Jan Koopman affirmed that the partnership with Tunisia is profitable for both parties. He also expressed the European Union’s readiness to develop bilateral cooperation in the field of green hydrogen and to support and train the specialized workforce of engineers and executives in various specializations under the Ministry’s consideration.
