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Union criticizes exclusion from renewable energy talks, warns of risks to Steg
via Business News2 min read
Elyes Ben Ammar, a member of the General Electricity and Gas Federation of the UGTT, criticized his organization's exclusion from consultations on renewable energy projects during an interview on Jawhara FM on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. He clarified that the union supports renewable energy as a strategic choice, noting Steg's pioneering role with one of Africa's first wind farms in Sidi Daoud in 2000. However, Ben Ammar expressed concerns about the current implementation in Tunisia, calling the approach unbalanced and against public interest. He lamented the lack of consultation with union representatives on concession bills in Parliament, despite other stakeholders being heard. He argued that the UGTT, as a major social actor, has a legitimate right to participate in national strategic decisions, especially in the sensitive energy sector. He also criticized Steg's general management for not adequately defending the public company's interests. Ben Ammar warned that certain renewable energy contracts could jeopardize Steg's financial stability, citing clauses that might transfer carbon credit benefits to foreign investors. Citing a study by the Tunisian Observatory of the Economy, he highlighted "imbalances" in contracts that disadvantage the public sector and do not meet international standards, favoring foreign investors over national capabilities. He called for a thorough review of the sector's governance framework to better consider public company interests and broaden nat
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
Former Minister Faouzi Ben Abderrahman, in a Facebook post on Thursday, July 16, offered a strong critique of Tunisia's current governance. He argues that the Kaïs Saïed regime has progressively stripped political life of its substance, a pattern he believes echoes the final years of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's rule. Ben Abderrahman states that Kaïs Saïed has "killed politics," which not only weakens parties, opposition, and intermediary bodies but also undermines the government itself by depriving it of mechanisms to understand societal changes and adapt to economic, social, and political realities. He suggests that public affairs management has shifted to the administration, with judicial and security institutions becoming primary tools to neutralize dissent. While acknowledging the Tunisian administration's role in daily state management, he asserts it cannot replace political action, lacking the necessary vision, negotiation capacity, and political legitimacy for a national project. He emphasizes that a development plan is a political project, not just a technical document, requiring societal choices, economic strategy, and the ability to mobilize actors around a common vision. The absence of this political dimension, he claims, weakens the country's capacity for development planning and competitiveness. Ben Abderrahman also highlights a weakening of political parties, historical national organizations, and press freedom. He observes that judicial and secur
Mohamed Ali Nafti, Tunisia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad, represented President Kaïs Saïed in Doha on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, to offer condolences to Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, following the passing of the Father Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nafti traveled to Lusail Palace at the instruction of the head of state to participate in the condolence ceremony. The minister conveyed President Saïed's condolences and sincere feelings of compassion to the deceased's family and the Qatari people. He also paid tribute to the Father Emir's role in Qatar's modern development and his contribution to the country's prosperity. Mohamed Ali Nafti highlighted the deceased's contribution to strengthening fraternal and cooperative relations between Tunisia and Qatar, recalling his attachment to Tunisia, its leaders, and its people. Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani asked the Tunisian minister to convey his warm greetings and the family's thanks to President Kaïs Saïed. He also reaffirmed his commitment to continuing the development of fraternal relations between Tunisia and Qatar. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who came to power in 1995, significantly transformed his country through economic openness, infrastructure development, and active diplomacy. Qatar remains an important partner for Tunisia, particularly in economic, financial, and diplomatic spheres, with cooper
The European Commission is preparing a reform to prevent Chinese companies from winning contracts for projects funded by the European Union, following several Tunisian railway contracts awarded to the Chinese state-owned giant CRRC. According to the Italian agency Nova, the European executive is considering introducing a European preference clause in the next multi-annual financial framework 2028-2034 for markets funded by EU funds or guarantees. This consideration comes after CRRC secured two significant railway contracts in Tunisia. One contract, valued at approximately 90 million euros, is for the supply of 18 electric trains for the Tunis-La Goulette-La Marsa TGM line, co-financed by the European Investment Bank EIB and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EBRD. Another CRRC subsidiary reportedly won a 38.2 million euro contract from SNCFT for five electric trains for the Moknine-Mahdia line, also largely supported by international funding involving European institutions. European companies were reportedly disadvantaged by CRRC's significantly lower prices, making competition difficult based solely on cost. Brussels is concerned that European institutions finance these projects and bear the financial risks, while contracts are awarded to companies from third countries, often heavily subsidized by their governments. The issue extends beyond railway projects, with the new Bizerte bridge construction, awarded to the Chinese company Sichuan Road and Bridge, al