Tunisia takes first steps towards offshore wind energy

Tunisian-Dutch cooperation

Water and energy sources in the Middle East and North Africa are running out. The current energy system mainly depends on non-renewable energy sources. Tunisia has an ambitious national strategy for its energy transition and asked the Netherlands for help.

Mr Fethi Hanchi, Tunisian National Agency for Energy Conservation (ANME) General Manager, stated, "I hope that this is the first step towards more intense Tunisian-Dutch cooperation. I strongly encourage our cooperation and fostering an environment that will promote a beneficial collaboration between both countries."

Supporting Tunisian energy transition

To help Tunisia, the Energy Transition Facility (ETF) organised an offshore wind training course in cooperation with the ANME and DOB-Academy. ETF aims to support countries in the Middle East and North Africa with their transition to a more sustainable energy supply.

Mr Hugo Brouwer, Senior Policy Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, "I am very glad that we can organise this first offshore wind energy activity with our Tunisian counterparts under the Energy Transition Facility. I hope we can further expand our cooperation with Tunisia in the field of energy transition."

Mr Fethi Hanchi was also pleased and said, "I am delighted for this opportunity and would like to thank our Dutch counterparts for their help with organising this training course. The course is important to Tunisia for its energy transition and ambitious national strategy. ANME appreciates this excellent offshore wind course for Tunisian officials a lot."

Training course

A group of 20 Tunisian government officials joined the 4-day training course on offshore wind energy. Participants included:

• Staff from the Tunisian National Agency for Energy Conservation (ANME);
• Officials from the Tunisian Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines;
• Officials from the Tunisian Company for Electricity and Gas (STEG); and
• Participants from Tunisian technical universities.

The training course was designed to take Tunisian specifics into account. Another part of the programme looked at Dutch government approaches. These included political framework setting and how to organise tenders. ETF provided the funding for the training course.

Energy Transition Facility

ETF projects focus on collaboration at policy level. National governments can request advice and knowledge via ETF. Our advisors will decide which tools within or outside the Netherlands Enterprise Agency best support the proposal, plan or idea. The core focus is to improve and support the policy and stability of the energy transition in the MENA region.

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency carries out ETF on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Do you have questions about ETF and offshore wind energy? Please email ETF advisor Edu Willemse.