Tarek Kahlaoui criticizes insufficient debate on photovoltaic power plant projects in Parliament

University lecturer and analyst Tarek Kahlaoui criticized the lack of debate surrounding draft laws on photovoltaic power plants, which are scheduled for parliamentary review. In a publication on Monday, April 27, 2026, Kahlaoui stated that he has been following this issue "since its inception" and regrets that only "a small handful" of stakeholders have paid attention to these projects, despite their significance. He highlighted the work of four key players: the Association for Energy Democracy, in conjunction with members of the General Electricity Federation; the Tunisian Organization for Clean Energies STEP, which has developed a white paper; former members of the parliamentary energy commission; and the Tunisian Economic Observatory, which produced what he considers "the most important analytical study" on the projects. Kahlaoui expressed regret that these organizations were not included in parliamentary discussions, noting their contributions were "rejected or ignored" at a recent meeting where only official representatives and project-favorable deputies were heard. He also criticized the authorities' silence regarding reservations from the General Electricity Federation, arguing that "ignoring criticism does not reflect the strength of arguments, but more likely their weakness." Kahlaoui emphasized that these projects, which are crucial for the country's energy future, require a calm public debate based on scientific data and field analyses. He warned against any attem