Tunisia Awards 187 SME Licenses For 287 MW Solar Projects To Accelerate Renewable Energy Transition

Tunisia has taken an important step toward strengthening its renewable energy sector by awarding 187 licenses to small and medium-sized enterprises for the development of solar photovoltaic projects. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy (Tunisia) as part of the fifth round of the country’s renewable energy tender program under the specific authorization regime. The approved projects together represent a total solar power capacity of about 287 megawatts.

The initiative is designed to increase private sector participation in the country’s energy transition while encouraging the growth of local businesses. By allocating licenses to SMEs, the government aims to create a more inclusive renewable energy market where local companies can actively participate in building clean power infrastructure. This approach is expected to support domestic entrepreneurship and strengthen the country’s renewable energy ecosystem.

The solar projects approved under this program will vary in size, ranging from 1 megawatt to 10 megawatts each. This distributed model allows multiple developers to participate and ensures that solar installations can be developed across different regions. Smaller project capacities also make it easier for local technical firms and investors to enter the renewable energy market without the need for extremely large financial commitments.

This licensing round forms a key part of Tunisia’s long-term energy strategy. The government has set a target to generate 35 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. At present, the country depends heavily on natural gas to meet its electricity demand, and a large portion of this gas is imported. Increasing solar power generation is expected to reduce reliance on external fuel supplies while improving energy security and stabilizing electricity costs.

Industry observers believe that the strong interest from developers during this tender round reflects growing confidence in Tunisia’s renewable energy sector. The participation of a large number of SMEs indicates that the market is becoming more attractive for local investors and technology providers.

Alongside these SME-led projects, the government is also progressing with larger solar developments through a concession-based framework. Around 500 megawatts of additional solar capacity has already been awarded to international companies under this model, demonstrating the country’s effort to combine both domestic and global expertise in expanding its renewable energy capacity.

By promoting both large-scale solar plants and smaller decentralized projects, Tunisia is creating a balanced approach to energy development. The government expects these projects to support job creation, particularly in the construction and technology sectors, while also strengthening the national grid. The initiative represents an important milestone in the country’s efforts to accelerate clean energy adoption and move toward a more sustainable and resilient energy future.