Elyes Ben Ammar, a member of the General Union of Electricity and Gas, affiliated with the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT), has expressed several reservations about green hydrogen projects in Tunisia.
In an exclusive interview with Africanmanager, he said these projects consume large amounts of water and energy and would exacerbate the country’s energy deficit and water shortage crisis.
Interview:
What are your reservations about green hydrogen projects in Tunisia?
The General Union of Electricity and Gas has several reservations about green hydrogen projects in Tunisia. These projects are among the most water- and energy-intensive, in a country already facing an energy deficit and water shortages.
Moreover, they are extremely costly. A national dialogue or consultation should therefore have been launched before these projects were approved or officially adopted.
Should your position be understood to mean that claims about green hydrogen’s contribution to development and reducing the energy deficit are unfounded?
First, I would like to define green hydrogen. It is a clean, sustainable fuel produced through the electrolysis of water. This process separates hydrogen from oxygen using electricity generated exclusively from renewable sources, such as solar and wind power. Seawater desalination is also required to provide the necessary quantities of water.
Tunisia is currently being promoted as one of the Mediterranean’s most promising locations for becoming a regional hub for green hydrogen production and exports to the European market, capitalizing on its strategic location and vast renewable energy potential.
According to reports and studies by official bodies, green hydrogen projects will require, by 2050, a volume of water equivalent to one-quarter of Tunisia’s drinking water needs.
This threatens to worsen the water crisis, at a time when Tunisia has already entered a phase of what is known as “water bankruptcy”, characterized by annual per capita water availability of between 350 and 380 cubic meters.
Furthermore, these projects require massive renewable energy infrastructure with a capacity of approximately 100 gigawatts, nearly 20 times the country’s current energy production.
Will the domestic market benefit from green hydrogen production?
Tunisia will not use this green hydrogen. It will be exported to Germany and Northern European countries. In addition, the planned projects will be located in southern Tunisia, particularly in Gabès and Tataouine.
We are all aware of the scale of the problems and social tensions caused by the pollution generated by the Tunisian Chemical Group in Gabès, as well as by other protest movements.
We are calling for a national dialogue that would lead to the development of an economic model that benefits local communities. National needs must be met as a priority before exports are considered.
How much investment is planned to implement Tunisia’s green hydrogen strategy?
Implementing this strategy requires substantial financial resources, estimated by the supervisory authority at approximately €117 billion to develop the necessary infrastructure by 2050.
These funds will naturally be mobilized through loans and credit financing from public funds.
It would have been preferable to direct these investments towards resolving the country’s water crisis and energy deficit.
Are preventive measures being taken to avoid a recurrence of the frequent power cuts experienced during the summer of 2027?
Resolving the energy problem and ending rolling power cuts during periods of record-breaking temperatures is an extremely complex task in the short term.
As everyone knows, the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company (STEG) resorted to this measure as a temporary technical solution to prevent the collapse of the national power grid.
Projects and strategies are indeed being developed to prevent a repeat of the summer of 2026 scenario, and further details will be disclosed shortly.
However, realistically speaking, implementing these strategies and achieving tangible results will require at least three years.
STEG is widely known to face a structural deficit and considerable pressure on its financial position. Could you shed light on the company’s actual financial situation?
STEG sells electricity to Tunisians at a price below its actual cost of production. The State should have covered the difference.
Furthermore, the financial support allocated to the company is insufficient to meet its needs or eliminate its deficit.
The large volume of outstanding receivables and unpaid bills has worsened the company’s financial crisis. At the same time, STEG resorts to borrowing to finance infrastructure intended for the private sector and energy exports.
What impact does electricity theft have on STEG’s financial situation?
Electricity theft and illegal diversions are not the main cause of the company’s crisis, but they are a secondary factor contributing to STEG’s deficit.
Overall, STEG’s total electricity losses in Tunisia amount to approximately 20% of the country’s total electricity production (…).
