In order to face the coronavirus crisis, the Tunisian State has put in place fiscal and social measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the MPCs. In parallel with this, the energy sector has seen changes in terms of planned objectives and achievements. These and other topics were discussed at the June 30 webinar where representatives of public institutions met with members of the private sector to exchange on the latest developments in the RE sector and the steps to be taken.

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).

In order to facilitate access to information for developers, investors and national or international project leaders, a guide on renewable energy projects (RE) in Tunisia has been prepared. The RE Guide is published by the Ministry, you can prove to download it here:

www.tunisieindustrie.gov.tn/projets-ENR.php

The reader has the possibility to consult and download several formats of the guide:

• A Detailed Guide, which gathers in a single document all the procedures and authorizations identified at the date of finalization of the guide, as well as useful information for the development of ENR projects in Tunisia;
• A Summary Guide, which provides a general overview of the context, regimes and procedures applicable, as well as the investment framework. The reader can, if he/she wishes, go deeper into the different aspects of the Summary Guide by consulting the Detailed Guide;
• A Summary Guide ENG, an English translation of the Summary Guide.

This guide specifically covers:

• Wind and photovoltaic (PV) projects;
• Installations connected to the Medium Voltage (MV) and High Voltage (HV) electrical networks;
• Projects subject, under Law 12-2015, to the regimes of self-consumption (with or without transmission on the grid), authorisation and concessions as part of the total and exclusive sale of electricity to STEG for national needs.

For any information related to the guides, the reader can make a request to the following address: guide.enr(at)energiemines.gov.tn