Summary:

On 5 November 2025, Tunisian media outlet La Presse reported that the Sbikha photovoltaic solar plant in Kairouan is expected to begin operations by the end of November 2025.

Developed by AMEA Power, a UAE-based renewable energy firm operating through its Tunisian subsidiary Kairouan Solar Plant (KSP), the project spans nearly 200 hectares and is 95 percent complete.

Once operational, the plant is expected to generate around 230 megawatts per year, equivalent to 1.3 percent of Tunisia’s national electricity consumption, and feed its output into the national grid operated by STEG, Tunisia’s nationalized power provider.

With a total investment of 260 million dinars, the project represents Tunisia’s largest solar installation to date and a significant step toward reducing the country’s reliance on imported energy, which still accounts for nearly two-thirds of national demand.

Authorities estimate that the new capacity could lower natural gas imports by around $25 million annually and cut carbon emissions by approximately 120,000 tons per year.

Outlook: 

The imminent launch of the Sbikha solar plant underscores Tunisia’s growing renewable energy capacity and represents a tangible step toward diversifying its energy mix. As one of Tunisia’s early forays into alternative energy sources following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent shift in the global energy market, this project is a significant proof-of-concept for Tunisia’s viability and competitiveness as a host for similar energy projects.

By cutting import costs and strengthening electricity supply resilience, the project has the potential to ease fiscal and energy pressures while showcasing the benefits of public-private partnerships.

The project success may encourage further foreign investment, particularly from Gulf-based energy firms, positioning Tunisia as an emerging hub for North African solar development.

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