Tunisia is set to host a 130-MW photovoltaic solar power plant funded by Japan under its Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), according to local media reports on March 16.
The project was selected in February 2026 to receive financing through Japan’s carbon funding initiative, according to Ecofin Agency.
The solar facility will be located in the Gabès region and will be operated by the Tunisian Company for Electricity and Gas (STEG).
The funding is provided under the JCM, a program run by the Japanese government to support low-carbon projects in other countries.
The mechanism allows both Japan and the host country to share the greenhouse gas emission reductions generated by such projects, as reported by African Manager.
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Under this arrangement, Japan will contribute a grant of up to 2 billion yen, which is approximately 37 million Tunisian dinars (about $13.5 million), to help finance the project. This funding will cover part of the construction costs.
The project will be developed by the Japanese company Marubeni in partnership with a French firm that has not been disclosed. No official commissioning date has been announced yet.
This initiative is part of Tunisia’s broader push to expand renewable energy capacity. Official data indicates that the country aims to increase the share of renewables in its electricity generation mix to 35% by 2030.
As of 2023, renewables made up about 3.8% of total electricity production, according to data from the International Energy Agency.
Natural gas currently remains the dominant source of electricity generation in the country, accounting for the majority of supply.
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Image Credit: African Development Bank
