Project update: Tunisia speaks to AfDB, IFC for solar plant financing

Tunisia hopes to secure USD 100 mn in financing for 100 MW solar plant by November: Tunisia’s Energy Ministry is in talks with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) to reach financial close by November on its USD 100 mn Kairouan solar plant, according to a ministry statement.
What do we know about the plant? The Kairouan solar plant was awarded to a consortium that includes Dubai-based renewable energy developer AMEA Power and Chinese energy solutions provider TBEA Xinjiang New Energy Company in 2019, WAM writes. AMEA Power was then awarded a concession and power purchase agreement in March 2022. Construction on the plant is set to begin at the end of 2022.
This is part of Tunisia’s push to build solar plants with a combined capacity of 500 MW across the country. As part of its national strategy to develop solar plants, Tunisia is looking to build a 200 MW plant in Tataouine, a 100 MW plant in Gafsa and two 50 MW plants in Tozeur and Sidi Bouzid. In total, the country aims to increase the share of renewables in its energy mix to 30% by 2030, equivalent to an additional installed capacity of approximately 4 GW.