Tunisia, Africa Export Green Energy to Europe
Private operators in Tunisia (a country of Africa) will soon be able to export 200 MW of green energy (renewable energy) to Europe through the underwater electric connexion set up between Tunisia and Italy, within the ELMED project.
The project between Tunisia and Italy with a total capacity of 1000 MW will help Italy ensure its energetic security, as well as integrating Tunisia within the European electrical connection network, said Mr Corrado Clini, a senior official at the Italian Ministry of the environment, land planning and the sea, during a round table organized in Tunis, Africa by the Mediterranean Centre of Renewable Energies (MEDREC). New European legislation encourages the import of green energy (renewable energy) into Europe, he said.
On his part, the Tunisian Minister of Industry, Energy and Small and Medium Enterprises, Mr Afif Chelbi said that the Tunisian Italian partnership in terms of reducing energy consumption, has led to a ten fold increase of solar panels in the country, from 8000 to 80,000 square meters between 2004 and 2008.
He also said that Tunisia, Africa aimed at reducing its overall consumption of primary energy by some 20% by 2011, noting that the country had changed its legislative framework to encourage electrical production through renewable energies (green energies) and through cogeneration.
