🇹🇳TunisiaNorth Africa
Tunisian Observatory of the Economy warns against risks of photovoltaic concessions
via Business News5 min read
The Tunisian Observatory of the Economy OTE has issued a warning regarding five draft laws concerning concessions for renewable energy production, currently under review by the Assembly of People's Representatives. The OTE's orientation note, "Renewable energy concession bills: announced transition, threatened sovereignty," argues that these projects, while aiming for energy independence and cost reduction, prioritize the interests of financiers over national interests. The OTE highlights several risks, including a direct financial impact on the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company Steg, potentially leading to increased debt. The Observatory also points to contractual imbalances favoring foreign investors without significant provisions for technology transfer, local industrial integration, or sustainable job creation. Furthermore, concerns were raised about the transfer of exchange rate risk to Steg, foreign currency outflows over more than twenty years, and potential environmental impacts. The OTE urges deputies to reject these concession contracts and advocates for new hearings to rethink the energy transition strategy, including a revision of the 2015 law governing the sector. The goal is to leverage the energy transition to strengthen national technological capabilities by involving researchers and local economic actors.
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On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Tunisia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the armed violence targeting Mali and reaffirming its solidarity with the Malian people. Tunisia expressed deep concern over severe armed attacks in several Malian cities, including the capital Bamako, which resulted in numerous casualties. The ministry rejected any infringement on Mali's unity, sovereignty, security, and stability. These attacks, which occurred on April 26, were reportedly carried out by jihadist groups affiliated with the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims GSIM, an Al-Qaeda-linked organization, in alliance with Tuareg separatist movements from the Azawad Liberation Front FLA. The strategic northern city of Kidal, a former Tuareg rebel stronghold, reportedly fell under insurgent control without major confrontation after the withdrawal of Russian forces from the Africa Corps. The attacks, which claimed the life of the Minister of Defense, were accompanied by GSIM claims of responsibility, with the group also calling for foreign forces not to intervene. University professor and Islamist group specialist Alaya Allani indicated that this crisis is part of a long-standing instability dating back to the 1990s, marked by the gradual entrenchment of extremist groups in the Sahel region. Allani noted that foreign military interventions, such as the French intervention in 2012, did not permanently resolve the security problem but rather contributed to the reconfigur
Butter prices in Tunisia have reached unprecedented levels, with a 200-gram packet selling for up to 8.200 dinars, equivalent to 41 dinars per kilogram. This makes butter more expensive than various types of meat, such as beef at 39.500 dinars per kilogram, seasoned minced steak at 38 dinars per kilogram, chicken breast at 15.900 dinars per kilogram, and turkey breast at 22.350 dinars per kilogram, according to prices observed on April 28, 2026. This price inversion, where a processed dairy product costs more than raw meat requiring extensive production processes, indicates a significant market imbalance. While prices vary across retailers, the overall trend is concerning. The article questions the role of the state in regulating prices and protecting consumers, especially given official rhetoric about social equity and market protection. It suggests that this situation points to a deep dysfunction in market mechanisms, either due to uncontrolled production and distribution costs or excessive profit margins, ultimately burdening consumers without clear justification. The author emphasizes that this is not merely an economic anecdote but a critical warning sign of underlying issues within the economy.
The 2025-2026 olive oil campaign is concluding with positive export figures for Tunisia, yet concerns are mounting for the upcoming season due to water stress and dwindling resources. Abdallah Sahraoui, president of the Sahline Olive Growers' Union, stated on April 28, 2026, that local olive oil prices range from 12 to 13 dinars per liter, while international prices are around 4.73 euros per kilogram. Tunisia exported nearly 184.3 thousand tons of olive oil by the end of March, generating over 2.263 billion dinars. Sahraoui noted strong global demand, estimated at 500 thousand tons. Export prices for Tunisian olive oil range from 9 to 11.5 dinars per kilogram, reaching 12.5 dinars for extra virgin. Despite these strong performances, Sahraoui warned of a challenging season ahead, attributing it to the alternating nature of rain-fed crop production and, critically, water shortages. He highlighted the reliance of irrigated crops on strained water resources, exacerbated by several years of drought. The water deficit significantly impacts the entire agricultural sector, with Monastir Governorate, responsible for about 41% of national early greenhouse produce, experiencing reduced production capacity due to the drastic drop in the Nebhana dam's water level. This supply contraction contributes to price increases for certain products, such as tomatoes. Sahraoui also addressed the livestock market ahead of Eid, pointing to significant price hikes for sheep due to intermediaries. A 30
Tunisia's national digital platform, Najda.tn, designed for heart attack patient care, has shown encouraging results after one year of operation. Cardiologist Salem Abdessalem, a key figure in the project, reported that the platform, developed over three years under the Ministry of Health with cardiology and emergency medicine associations, aims to streamline and digitize care for myocardial infarction patients, significantly reducing intervention times. Before Najda.tn, only 30% of patients received angioplasty, the standard treatment, while 30% received less effective medication, and nearly 40% received no adequate care, despite an increase in catheterization labs from 30 to 50 units in a decade. Dr. Abdessalem emphasized that the issue was not equipment but organization and time. Najda.tn ensures an electrocardiogram within ten minutes for patients admitted with chest pain. Medical data is immediately integrated, alerting SAMU teams and specialized centers for direct transfer to a catheterization lab. Over 3,000 patients have been managed through the platform, with angioplasty access rising to nearly 90% from 20-30%. Medication-only treatment dropped to 8%, and patients without care became marginal at 3-4%. While intervention times average four hours, with a two-hour target, progress is considered substantial. The platform, developed by Tunisian experts, will be enhanced through international partnerships, with future plans including AI integration for diagnosis and ECG in