Tunisia’s green hydrogen strategy will need domestic stakeholders

Al-Monitor subscribers

Francisco Serrano

Journalist and analyst specialized in North Africa

Aug. 24, 2024

Tunisia is positioning itself as a renewable and clean energy platform to service European markets. In May, the country signed a €48 billion agreement with a grouping made up of TotalEnergies, Eren Groupe, and Verbund to produce green hydrogen using renewable energy. But as the country increasingly attracts private investments into clean energy generation that focuses on supplying European markets, Tunisia’s own energy independence has worsened on the back of an economic crisis. Falling oil and gas output and rising energy imports have all made Tunisia’s energy supplies more unstable. The country has the natural conditions to become a hub for clean energy exports out of North Africa. But in order to secure popular backing and support for new energy projects, authorities will also have to weigh in the needs of domestic businesses and customers over the long term.