At the dawn of a summer season during which, traditionally, the electricity network experiences peaks in consumption and… power cuts, due to extreme heat and excessive use of air conditioners, public authorities in Tunisia believed they could solemnly commit to ensuring a regular supply of electricity to citizens and businesses.
Speaking on Friday, January 21, 2024, during a press conference on the main measures taken to deal with the peak in electricity consumption this season, the Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Fatma Thabet Chiboub, added that there would be no disruptions during the summer season, which sees record average consumption.
She also discussed the increase in electricity demand, which reaches its peak during the summer season, and stressed the importance of rationalizing electricity consumption by adopting energy-saving habits. To this end, a campaign was launched to guarantee the supply of electricity in the best possible conditions, assured the minister, while recalling that the sale price of electricity and energy products in Tunisia remains at a reasonable level. , despite the increase in production and distribution costs.
The priority of the Ministry of Energy for the coming period is to provide energy resources produced locally from alternative and renewable sources, indicated Ms. Thabet Chiboub, emphasizing the importance of the procedures adopted by the Tunisian Society of Energy. electricity and gas (Steg) this summer season to ensure a balance between supply and demand and avoid the disruptions of previous years. This is what, of course, all citizens want, without having too many illusions, while hoping that the promises will be kept.
Peak electricity consumption is expected to reach 5,200 megawatts in summer 2024, compared to 4,825 megawatts in summer 2023, an increase of more than 7%. To this end, awareness and communication campaigns on the rationalization of consumption are planned, the aim is to encourage the public company’s customers to save energy products, and in particular electricity.
Steg also coordinates with neighboring countries to strengthen electricity exchanges and avoid power cuts.