AMEA Power breaks ground on 120MW solar project in Tunisia
Power Engineering International
Posted on: 9 May 2024
Renewable project developer AMEA Power has announced the official groundbreaking of the 120MW Kairouan Solar Photovoltaic Project in Tunisia.
Dubai-headquartered renewable project developer AMEA Power has announced the official groundbreaking of the 120MW Kairouan Solar Photovoltaic Project in Tunisia.
The 120MW Kairouan solar PV project will be built under a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model and is being implemented by Kairouan Solar Plant, a project company registered in Tunisia and fully owned by AMEA Power.
The commissioning of the PV power plant is expected in Q4 2025. Once commissioned, it will be AMEA Power’s first operational asset in the country.
The $86 million project is financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The project was initially awarded to AMEA Power through an international tender programme that was launched by Tunisia’s Ministry of Industry and SMEs. This 120MW project is the first project under the concession regime to reach financial close.
Have you read?
University of York completes solar farm to boost robotic research
Microsoft and Brookfield ink 10.5GW mega corporate PPA
Hussain Al Nowais, chairman of AMEA Power, said: “This is a significant milestone for AMEA Power, as we officially announce the groundbreaking for the country’s first privately-financed solar project...By taking advantage of its renewable energy resources, and its strategic location between North Africa and Europe, Tunisia can become a prime location for green energy and trade. This groundbreaking project is a beacon for future renewable energy projects in the country, supporting the government's goal of achieving 35% of renewable energy in its energy mix by 2030.”
The solar project will generate 222GWh of clean energy per year, power more than 43,000 households and will offset 117,000 tonnes of carbon emission over the course of the project’s life. It will also support the country in reducing its dependence on oil and gas imports.
The concession agreement and the 20-year power purchase agreements with the Société Tunisienne de l'Electricité et du Gaz (STEG) were signed in June 2021.
