Libya, Algeria, and Tunisia, are preparing to take a major step in their energy cooperation by launching a pioneering project for electric interconnection between the three countries.
According to the Director of Studies at Algeria’s state-owned utility company Sonelgaz, Habib Mohamed Al-Akhdar, work is underway on the electric corridor project that will link Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. He noted that discussions are ongoing, with plans to sign a memorandum of understanding between the three countries soon to initiate the necessary studies for implementing the project.
He added that the project will enable Sonelgaz to open new horizons for electricity exports to its two neighboring countries. He highlighted that the strategic development plan of Sonelgaz primarily focuses on international expansion, especially in Africa, starting with neighboring countries.
Last week, the Algerian government expressed for the first time its intention to establish an electric interconnection with Libya and Egypt as part of regional efforts to launch “electric corridors” with the European Union, relying on green energy.
Tunisia and Algeria have also discussed enhancing the trilateral electric interconnection with Libya to improve the response to peak electricity demand during the summer and reduce pressure on transmission and distribution networks. For this purpose, Tunisia’s Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy and Algeria’s electricity and gas company Sonelgaz signed two agreements at the beginning of this year to strengthen electricity exchange and implement future energy projects in both countries.
The construction of an electric interconnection line between Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya has been studied, with the aim of exchanging up to 1,500 megawatts between the three countries.
Presidents Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria and Kais Saied of Tunisia had previously agreed with the head of Libya’s Presidential Council, Mohammed Menfi, to accelerate the implementation of the electric interconnection project and to strengthen cooperation and remove obstacles to the smooth flow of goods.
They also agreed to fast-track measures for the movement of people and the establishment of free trade zones between the three countries. This agreement was reached last April during the first trilateral summit held in Tunisia, with plans to hold another summit in Tripoli soon.
In June last year, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya successfully conducted a synchronous electric interconnection test between their power transmission networks for 24 hours. The three countries aim to establish a joint electricity market, with the previous test enabling the exchange of between 400 and 500 megawatts in real-time.
