Tunisia is moving forward on its plans to boost its output of renewable energy sources and on Friday launched a number of new projects, including wind farming and solar energy. It is part of the country's efforts to adhere to the international “Desertec” project. The Tunisian Company Gas and Electricity company, (STEG) and the national agency of energy rationalization (ANME) held an international seminar on Friday in Tunis, dedicated to the launch of the Tunisian Solar Plan under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Small and Medium Enterprises, Tunisian reports said. The seminar reportedly brought together representatives of international financial institutions, donors and Tunisian and foreign operators in the sector of renewable energies. The Tunisian solar plan includes 40 projects in solar energy, wind energy and underwater electrical interconnection between Tunisia and Italy. In his opening presentation, Abdelaziz Rassaa the Secretary of State in charge of renewable energies, stressed Tunisia’s international cooperation in the renewable energy sector with the European Union, the World Bank, the Environmental World Fund and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). In an interview with Tunisia Online News, Ayadi Ben Aissa, the Director General of the national agency of energy rationalization (ANME) said that “the participation of financial institutions at the international seminar is crucial to finance the Tunisian solar plan which also continues to receive the support of the World bank as well as several others major financial institutions.” BM
