• Voltalia selected to build 132-MW Wadi solar plant in southeastern Tunisia
• Project lifts Voltalia’s Tunisia solar pipeline to nearly 400 megawatts
• Solar push supports Tunisia’s strategy to cut gas imports, boost renewables

Voltalia, an international renewable energy company, announced on Thursday, Jan. 29, that it has been selected by the Tunisian government to develop a new 132-megawatt solar project named Wadi in the Gabès region of southeastern Tunisia. This project follows the Sagdoud project in May 2024 and Menzel Habib in December 2024. With Wadi, the total capacity of Voltalia’s solar projects slated for construction in the country reaches nearly 400 megawatts.

Located near the Menzel Habib site, the Wadi project is expected to benefit from operational synergies, specifically through shared costs related to construction, transport, and maintenance. Construction is scheduled for 2027, with commissioning expected in 2028. According to Voltalia, the plant will produce enough electricity to power approximately 200,000 inhabitants and will cut 120,000 tons of CO2 per year. No information was provided regarding the cost of the project or its financing method.

"We are very pleased to have been selected for this new project in Tunisia. This step not only strengthens our presence in a region with strong solar potential, but it also allows us to support the country's energy ambitions more closely," said Robert Klein, CEO of Voltalia.

This project is part of a national strategy aimed at reducing Tunisia's energy dependence. According to a World Bank article published in January 2024, the country still relies heavily on imported natural gas to produce its electricity, with 48% of its energy needs imported in 2022. Meanwhile, peak electrical demand grew by approximately 5% per year between 2010 and 2022. The World Bank further estimates Tunisia's solar and wind potential at 320 gigawatts, for a national peak demand of about 5 gigawatts.

This momentum and the desire to accelerate the diversification of the energy mix are supported by structural reforms. On Nov. 11, 2025, the World Bank approved $430 million in funding for the TEREG program. This program is intended to modernize the Tunisian electricity sector, strengthen the performance of the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company (STEG), and attract private investment. The program notably aims to attract $2.8 billion in private investment to add 2.8 gigawatts of solar and wind capacity by 2028.

Abdoullah Diop