(Ecofin Agency) - Tunisia aims to increase renewable share in its energy mix to 30% by 2030, from 3% currently, thus reducing its dependency on gas from which it gets most of its power at the moment. To this end, the Société Tunisienne de l’Electrcitité et du Gaz (STEG) will build many renewable power plants.

The projects include a 10 MW photovoltaic power plant which will be established in Tozeur, by 2017. Meanwhile, seven potential sites are presently being studied to host 60 MW of additional solar power plants, which could expand to 300 MW, according to the project’s plans.

By 2021, the company also plans to construct three wind power stations totaling a capacity 300 MW. The first is the Tagba plant in Kebili which will generate 100 MW of power and be completed in 2019. The second, the El Kef plant, will be located in Medenine and have a capacity of 100 MW. It should start operating in 2020. The last, a 120 MW plant, is the Jbel Abderrahmane station which is to be built in Nabeul, by 2021.

In addition, a 400 MW hydropower station is also planned in Oued El Melah, by 2025.

STEG, according to its power efficiency head, Hassen Marzouk, has plans for a solar-based power supply project which requires 1.8 MW of power.

Gwladys Johnson