The Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy announced that the first meeting of the steering committee responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Tunisia–Italy electrical interconnection project (Elmed) was held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at the ministry’s headquarters.
The meeting was chaired by Slah Zouari, Minister of Equipment and Housing, who oversees the administration of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, in the presence of the State Secretary in charge of the Energy Transition, Wael Chouchane.
Also taking part in the meeting were the Chief Executive Officer of the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company (STEG), Faisal Tarifa, as well as representatives from the ministries of Defense, Economy and Planning, Equipment and Housing, Agriculture and the Environment, the General Directorate of Customs, and a number of senior officials from the ministry and STEG.
The ministry added that the minister stressed the importance of coordination among the various stakeholders to ensure the follow-up on the implementation of the project components in accordance with the established schedule. He also called for intensified efforts to overcome potential difficulties that may arise during the different phases of execution and to bring together the best conditions for advancing the project.
The ministry further indicated that the Tunisia–Italy electrical interconnection project is of strategic importance for the national energy system, insofar as it constitutes a true energy bridge between Tunisia and Europe.
The project will also connect the electric grids of North Africa and Europe via an underwater cable of about 223 kilometers, crossing the Strait of Sicily. It will have a transmission capacity of 600 megawatts, at a voltage up to 500 kilovolts in high-voltage direct current (HVDC), and will be installed at a maximum depth of about 800 meters.
