The African Development Bank Group welcomed the commissioning, on 16 December 2025, of the Kairouan solar power plant, which will strengthen Tunisia’s energy security and advance its transition toward renewable energy.
Developed by AMEA Power, a renewable energy company, in partnership with the Tunisian government and international financial institutions, the project is the first in Tunisia to exceed 100 megawatts of installed capacity and the first to inject renewable electricity into the 225-kilovolt high-voltage grid of the Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (STEG).
The African Development Bank contributed approximately $25 million to the financing of the Kairouan Solar Photovoltaic Project, drawing on its own resources and those of the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), a multi-donor special fund managed by the Bank Group.
“We warmly congratulate the Tunisian government and AMEA Power on the commissioning of the Kairouan solar project, which represents a decisive milestone in Tunisia’s energy transition,” said Malinne Blomberg, African Development Bank Deputy Director General for North Africa and Country Manager for Tunisia. “By supporting this transformational project, the Bank reaffirms its commitment to backing high-impact private investment capable of strengthening energy resilience, reducing carbon emissions, and creating lasting value for communities.”
The plant will generate 222 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity to supply nearly 43,000 households, also averting around 117,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year. Beyond its environmental benefits, the project is expected to help reduce the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and mitigate exposure to international energy price volatility.
Commissioning the plant marks a major step forward in the implementation of the country’s national energy strategy, which aims to raise the share of renewable energy to 35% of installed capacity by 2030. The Kairouan project is fully aligned with the African Development Bank’s strategic priorities, notably the promotion of resilient infrastructure, private sector development, climate action, and inclusive green growth.