Electricity in Tunisia in 2023

Based on our forecasting model using actual data for the first 9 months and projected data for the last 3 months of 2023, Tunisia's electricity consumption is roughly positioned around 36.92 TWh, all of which is derived from fossil and gas. There is apparent lack of low-carbon energy utilization. This consumption level translates to slightly below 410 watts per person as per global average, indicating a relative shortfall in electricity generation. The gap can directly impact socio-economic growth and activities, such as industrial growth, technology, and household usage among others. The heavy reliance on fossil and gas energy, contributing to widening carbon footprints, will remain unchecked without significant interventions.

Suggestions

Examining the electricity generation trends globally, Tunisia can draw insights from similarly situated nations for enhancing its low-carbon energy production. Countries like India, with solar energy generation at 120 TWh, and Brazil, with wind energy outreach of 94 TWh, can offer lessons in exploiting available resources. Spain's utilization of both solar (40 TWh) and nuclear (54 TWh) energy underscores the potential for a multi-source low-carbon approach, which Tunisia could emulate. Similar inspiration can be taken from Turkey's balanced injection of wind and solar strategies yielding 34 TWh and 19 TWh respectively. Importantly, these examples highlight that diversifying into low-carbon energy genres can be key for Tunisia's clean energy transition.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity in Tunisia has seen modest increases sporadically spread over the years. Hydro energy made its inception in 1985, with slight additional increments in 1987, 1991, and 2003. However, after peaking in 2003, it witnessed a slight reduction by 2006. From 2009, wind energy started making an entry and together with hydro energy showed incremental changes. However, notable adoption of wind energy started from 2012, with a marginal setback in 2015, and 2022 and 2023, likely indicating areas needing attention. The turn of the decade in 2020 marked the introduction of solar energy which has since added to the mix of low-carbon electricity sources. The information underscores that while efforts have been made in the past for low-carbon energy adoption, a more focused and intensified approach could potentially accelerate Tunisia's transition to cleaner energy solutions.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources