Tunisia to become ‘clean energy hub of Africa for Europe’ under EU-Tunisian power line plans.
- European Union announces $324m in funding for submarine power line
- Italian PM: New energy corridor will promote energy supply security, increase production from renewable sources
Tunisia-Italy Interconnection (TUNITA)
The EU will fund a 200-kilometer-long underwater power line project linking Tunisia and Italy to import electricity generated from renewable energy sources.
Thursday, the European Commission approved €307 million ($324 million) in funding for the project, which is estimated to cost roughly €850 million in total.
TERNA, the Italian power grid operator that will co-manage the project with Tunisian company STEG, announced that the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security has begun the authorization process for the project, which will be partially funded by the Connecting Europe Facility program for the development of key projects to bolster the union’s energy infrastructures.
“This new submarine power line will allow Italy to become the energy hub of all of Europe,” Italian environment minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin told Arab News.
Pichetto indicated that his ministry will act expeditiously “to provide the required authorizations so that the project can be completed as soon as feasible.”
He continued, “Italy and Europe require energy. Thanks to this power line originating in Africa, we are taking another step toward ending our reliance on Russian gas.”
The Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, hailed the EU’s support for the project as a “historic achievement.”
Meloni noted that the new underwater energy corridor between Africa and Europe will improve the generation of energy from renewable sources and increase energy supply security.
If you would like to comment on this article or anything else you have seen on Carthage Magazine, leave a comment below or head over to our Facebook page.
And if you liked this article, sign up for the monthly features newsletter. A handpicked selection of stories from Carthage Magazine, delivered to your inbox.
