Tunisia faces widespread power outages amid record heatwave and electricity demand
via SeneNews3 min read
Tunisia is experiencing widespread electricity outages as a severe heatwave, with temperatures reaching 49°C in Kairouan and 47°C in Tunis, has led to a record demand for electricity. The Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company Steg has implemented load shedding to prevent a complete blackout, a measure that has become common for Tunisians. Steg's CEO, Faycel Trifa, attributes the surge in demand to the excessive use of air conditioners, with national consumption potentially reaching a historic high of 6,000 megawatts. This situation has fueled public anger and concern, affecting homes and businesses across the country, with some outages lasting for several hours. President Kais Saïed has described the situation as "abnormal" and called for accountability for those responsible for the failures. Economist Héla Tlili from Tunis El Manar University points to an aging network, insufficient infrastructure, and a heavy reliance on natural gas for electricity production, while gas production has declined. She emphasizes the need to accelerate the development of renewable energy sources, particularly solar and wind, and to invest in energy storage solutions. The business organization Conect has expressed concerns about the economic impact, citing the lack of precise information on power cuts, which hinders businesses from preparing. Many Tunisians are struggling to cope, with some resorting to sleeping on floors to find relief from the heat. There are also growing concerns for prisoners
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
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