In the framework of the Tunisian-German Energy Partnership, a ceremony was organized on 11 March 2020, in honor of the journalists who participated in a study tour entitled "Tunisian media at the heart of the energy transition". Present were H.E. Mr Mongi Marzouk, Minister of Energy, Mines and Energy Transition, Mrs Rike Sohn, representative of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and Mr Ridha Berjab, Director General of the National Agency for Energy Management. During this ceremony, H.E. Mr Mongi Marzouk, stressed the importance of the role of journalists and the media in supporting Tunisia's efforts to achieve the ambitious objective of 30% of electricity produced from renewable energies by 2030. 

In the framework of the study tour organised by the Tunisian-German Energy Partnership for Tunisian and Moroccan journalists on energy transition, visits were organised to the Ruhr and Düsseldorf region in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Following an overview of the diversification of actors and approaches defining the German energy transition, Tunisian journalists appreciated this experience having gone through different phases of transformation: from coal, to renewable energies, to the introduction of new green technologies such as hydrogen and electric mobility. 
The Tunisian journalists noted that the success of this transition is due to the special interest given to a sector where innovation is a key indicator of success. Germany has adopted an incentive approach that has led to greater citizen involvement in promoting the energy transition. Awareness-raising measures were put in place for better communication around a highly recommended sector through in-depth studies conducted. 
To this end, Germany has now replicated the commitments of the European Union in its strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  
By taking advantage of this experience, Tunisian journalists have perceived the opportunities for the establishment of a continuous exchange in terms of energy policy between Germany and Tunisia.

"Involving the Civil Society in the Energy Transition"

In October this year, the secretariat of the Tunisian-German Energy Partnership scheduled an autumn school for active members of the civil society. In collaboration with the National Engineering School of Tunis (ENIT), where the program took place, participants spent four days full of information, activities and group work.

With a program that was not only informative but also practical, the candidates had the opportunity to exchange, learn, try out and, above all, to network. Thanks to the support and moderation of Marine Pouget from the German NGO Germanwatch, participants benefited from the very fruitful group work sessions. They did not lack ideas for future activities, as shown in the large collection of the week.

Other highlights included a visit to ENIT's laboratories and a workshop on the art of debate facilitated by the NGO Munathara, an initiative that is committed to strengthening the culture of debate in the Arab world. In addition, participants were able to exchange views with representatives of the Ministry of Industry and SMEs (MIPME), the National Agency for Energy Management (ANME) and the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company (STEG). Finally, there was an information forum on regional cooperation, during which the "Climate Action Network Arabe World" was presented, an example of civil society cooperation and youth engagement in the Arab world.

This programme was carried out by the Tunisian-German Energy Partnership and mandated by the Ministry of Industry and SMEs (MIPME) and the Federal Ministry of Economy and Energy (BMWi), with the support of the National Engineering School of Tunis (ENIT), Germanwatch and the Munathara Initiative.

An inter-ministerial delegation traveled to Germany to discuss the procedures for the authorization of occupation of public lands for electricity generation projects set of ERs. The purpose of the visit is that the members of the "advisory commission, charged with the study of the requests of authorization for the temporary occupation of the public land to carry out the measurements and to prepare the technical and economic studies of the projects of electricity production from renewable energies", gain knowledge of site management for renewable energy projects.

The delegation went on to clarify the effects of the installation of measuring devices and ER plants on public land, such as: the effects on wildlife, electromagnetic effects, noise, etc.

During the visits, participants were able to exchange with developers of REs, stakeholders of the Federal Agency for Real Property Management, the Federal Office of the Environment and the Federal Agency for Air Control, on the procedures applied for authorization to implement ERs projects. Also, exchanges took place with professionals on their feedback on the implementation of these technologies, for example the case of the 145 MW photovoltaic plant installed on the Neuhardenberg aerodrome. Here the participants had the chance to experience the possible effects that photovoltaic panels can have due to aviation forces, by flying just above it.

This program was carried out by the German Energy Agency (DENA) and the German-Tunisian Energy Partnership and mandated by the Ministry of Industry and SMEs (MIPME) and the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs Energy (BMWi).

What role do renewable energies play in Tunisia? What does energy efficiency mean?

These are some of the questions we would like to discuss with you in our autumn school for civil society.

The programme targets the Tunisian civil society, active in the energy sector and energy efficiency. In order to support the role of civil society organizations in promoting the energy transition, we want to spend four days working with you.

To apply consult the call for applications here (in French) and submit your application by e-mail to alina.steinborn(at)giz.de before the 13.10.2019 at 5pm.

Participation conditions and requirements:

• Associations operating in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector (not more than 3 persons per association)
• The candidate must demonstrate activities related to the objective of the autumn school
• The candidate must have a good level of French, spoken and read

Please note that every application must contain the Formulaire No. 1 (in the Annexe), a cover letter describing the candidate's interest in attending the programme and proof of participation or contribution in activities in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

This programme is carried out by the Tunisian-German Energy Partnership and mandated by the Ministry of Industry and SMEs (MIPME) and the Federal Ministry of Economy and Energy (BMWi).

https://www.energypartnership-tunisia.org/fileadmin/user_upload/tunisia/media_elements/2019_09_09_Appel_%C3%A0_Candidatures.pdf

The third training session for journalist’s capacity strengthening in the energy sector took place from 17th to 19th June 2019 in Tunis.

This session focused on the hydrocarbon sector and covered a multitude of controversial topics such as oil resources, the energy deficit and its influence on the trade balance, rising of prices and of the demand, the energy transition and the environmental issues.

In addition, the journalists had the opportunity to meet with the leaders of the key institutions of the sector, namely ETAP (Tunisian Company of Petroleum Activities), STIR (Tunisian Company of Refining Industries), SNDP (National Company of Oil Distribution - AGIL) and SITEP (Italian-Tunisian Petroleum Exploitation Company). The training was joined with a visit to the AGIL storage center located in the oil zone of Radès. It was followed by dynamic media coverage.

The training was organized by the Secretariat of the German-German-Energy Partnership, mandated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy together with the Tunisian Ministry of Industry and SMEs and implemented by the GIZ.

Tunisia is preparing for electric mobility!

During a study tour organized from the 22th to the 26th of April to Germany, participants from the Tunisian energy agency (ANME), the Tunisian Post, the National Electricity and Gas Company (STEG) and the National Engineering School of Tunis had the opportunity to exchange with representatives of the RWTH Aachen and public and private German actors on the theme of electric mobility.

During the visits, the participants had the opportunity to see examples of the development and fabrication of electric vehicles in Germany and even went for test drives. Visits included the RWTH University and Smartlab in Aachen, where research and its application for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure are developed. A highlight was the visit to the StreetScooter factory where electric cars for the German Post are produced. In Offenbach, representatives of the municipal utilities explained how the city is preparing for increased electric mobility and which role this technology can play for public transport. Several potential cooperation areas were identified between the Tunisian participants and the German interlocutors which are now being explored in order to determine possible applications for the Tunisian context.

The study tour was financed by the project Policy dialogue and knowledge management on low emission development strategies in the MENA region (DIAPOL), commissioned by BMU, and organized by the the Secretariat of the Tunisian-German Energy Partnership, commissioned by BMWi, in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and SMEs and the National Agency for Energy Management (ANME)

The second training session for journalists in the energy sector took place from 13th to 15th March in Tunis. This time, the training focused on the journalist's role in achieving energy efficiency.

During the training, a group of journalists from different regions had the opportunity to increase their technical and political knowledge on energy efficiency. The journalists gained an overview of the energy constraints of different sectors: building, transport and industry, and the instruments put in place to deal with them. A visit to a cogeneration unit in a pharmaceutical industry and a high-performance building, allowed participants to gain valuable insight.

This training was carried out by the Secretariat of the Tunisian- German Energy Partnership, mandated by the Federal Ministry of Economy and Energy (BMWi), in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and SMEs in collaboration with CAPJC and ANME.

In order to ensure reliable and accurate media coverage, the German-Tunisian Energy Partnership organized a training for journalists in the energy sector, with a joint funding by the project Support to implementation of the Tunisian Solar Plan, commissioned by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Protection and Nuclear Safety. The event took place in Tunis from October 23rd untill 26th in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and SMEs and CAPJC.

During this training, journalists from Tunis and other regions had the opportunity to expand their technical and political knowledge by tracing the path of electricity, from production to consumption and billing. This theoretical knowledge was made more tangible during a field visit to the dispatch center, a gas station in Rades and a photovoltaic installation at ANME headquarters.

The certificates were handed over by the Minister of Industry and SMEs, Mr. Slim Feriani, who did us the honor to close this training.

We thank the contributors as well as the participants for their active participation, without which this training could not have been so successful!