Tunisia-Algeria: proposed 1,400 MW power plant not yet launched, despite social media claims
A widely shared Facebook post claims Tunisia and Algeria have launched a joint project to build Tunisia's largest power plant, with a capacity of 1,400 megawatts. However, this announcement is inaccurate. While a 1,400 MW power plant project was discussed by Algerian and Tunisian authorities, it was a proposal considered during a meeting on May 24, 2026, not an official launch of construction. The meeting involved the Algerian Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies, Mourad Adjjal, and a delegation from the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company Steg, led by its CEO, Faisal Tarifa. Discussions focused on strengthening energy cooperation, including electricity supply to Tunisia, an electricity interconnection project between Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, and a proposal for a 1,400 MW combined cycle power plant in Tunisia. The official Algerian ministry communiqu茅 explicitly referred to it as a "proposal for a project," with no mention of construction commencement, signed contracts, timelines, or secured funding. The Facebook post therefore misrepresents a discussion as a launched project. A 1,400 MW plant would be significant, as Tunisia's national installed capacity was approximately 5,983 MW in 2024. The proposed combined cycle technology is already prevalent in Tunisia's power sector. The spread of this inaccurate information occurs amidst electricity outages in several Tunisian regions, with Steg having announced periodic cuts since July to maintain system security during h