German-Tunisian Energy Partnership

Overview

Tunisia and Germany have intensified their strategic and technical collaboration in the energy sector along the further integration of the private sector in Tunisia. The Memorandum of Understanding on an energy partnership between Tunisia and Germany signed in early 2012 is a solid basis for an intensive cooperation between the German Federal Ministry for Economy and Energy (BMWi) and the Tunisian Ministry of Industry and Energy (MI). Since the establishment of a permanent Secretariat in Tunis in 2013, implemented by GIZ, the Energy Partnership has functioned in an institutionalised manner. The goal of the Energy Partnership is to improve economic, legal and technical conditions in the Tunisian energy market.

The cooperation in the framework of the Energy partnership includes various fields, such as energy supply security, use of renewable energies, improving energy efficiency, reducing energy consumption, sustainable development and climate protection.

The Energy Partnership is composed of several institutionalised bodies. The steering committee is the agenda setter: it determines the thematic orientation of the Energy Partnership as well as responsibilities and funding. Three working groups (“green economy”, “low carbon strategies” and “energy policy”) ensure the continuous exchange between the parties. The secretariat strengthens the dialog and provides organisational and technical support to the steering committee and the working groups. It is the interface between partner ministries, steering committee, working groups, the private sector, civil society and German institutions abroad.

Achievements reached thanks to logistic and technical support from the secretariat

. Organisation of several political and technical discussions involving the private sector to enhance the economic, legal and technical framework in the Tunisian energy market

. Trips of high-ranking Tunisian delegations in Germany

. Establishment of the “German-Tunisian Energy Day”

. Concrete actions to enhance grid integration of renewable energies

Major meetings since its creation:

29^th April 2013: 1^st meeting of the steering committee: Strategic Planning Workshop in Tunis

5^th September 2013: 2^nd meeting of the steering committee in Berlin

27^th November 2013: 3^rd meeting of the steering committee in Tunis

25^th November 2014: 4^th meeting of the steering committee in Tunis

The 5^th steering committee meeting is due on the 2^nd, June 2015 in Berlin.

For more information see also:

Secretariat of the German-Tunisian Energy Partnership

DMS

Tunisia Energy Situation

Déclaration d'intention commune partenariat de l'énergie

Gemeinsame Absichtserklärung Energiepartnerschaft