Workers demonstrate the installation of solar photovoltaic panels in central Tunisia's Kairouan Province, May 8, 2024. (Photo by Adel Ezzine/Xinhua)
In recent years, Chinese companies have actively contributed to the green transformation. They have participated in renewable energy projects across northern Africa, helping drive sustainable growth and infusing local development with fresh "green momentum."
by Xinhua writer Zhang Meng
TUNIS, June 6 (Xinhua) -- About 155 km south of Tunisia's capital Tunis lies the historic city of Kairouan, where rows of photovoltaic brackets rise from the desert like a steel forest, adding a gleaming touch to this sun-soaked ancient city.
Covering about 200 hectares, the Kairouan 100-megawatt photovoltaic project, jointly built by Tianjin Electric Power Construction Co., Ltd. and the Northwest Electric Power Design Institute of China, will be Tunisia's largest ground-mounted solar power plant once completed in October.
With a planned 25-year lifespan, the plant is expected to generate 5.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, reducing carbon emissions by 5 million tonnes -- the equivalent of planting 12 million trees in the Sahara Desert.
"The project incorporates multiple Chinese technologies, offering Chinese expertise to support the integration of a high share of renewable energy into Tunisia's power grid and promoting its intelligent transformation," Xu Zhiyong, project manager of the Kairouan photovoltaic project said.
At the construction site, hundreds of Chinese and Tunisian workers were fine-tuning the tilt angles of the PV mounts with precision, ensuring each panel captures sunlight at its optimal angle. So far, the project team has trained over 300 local technical and management personnel.
Weekly training sessions have helped Tunisian project safety inspector Hossam Nafti master the risk control skills required for solar projects. "Since the start of construction, there hasn't been a single major accident," he said.
Tunisia is grappling with energy shortages and an unstable power supply, which pose a pressing need for renewable energy.
Badra Gaaloul, director of Tunisia's International Strategic Security and Military Studies Center, said that China's technological expertise, construction experience and financial support in the new energy sector serve as a "golden key" to unlocking Tunisia's energy potential. She expressed hope for expanded cooperation between the two countries in this area.
Travelling through Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, I found out that these three North African countries are richly endowed with abundant sunlight and strong coastal winds, having tremendous potential for renewable energy development.
As the global energy transition accelerates toward greener, low-carbon and more sustainable systems, these three countries -- long reliant on fossil fuels -- have each designated 2030 as a pivotal target year for achieving key energy transformation goals.
Tunisia plans to raise the share of new energy to 30 percent of its total power generation by 2030. Algeria aims to meet 40 percent of its electricity demand with renewables, while Morocco is aiming to have 52 percent of its installed capacity from renewable sources.
In recent years, Chinese companies have actively contributed to this green transformation. They have participated in renewable energy projects across the region, helping drive sustainable growth and infusing local development with fresh "green momentum."
In the desert of El M'Ghair Province in central Algeria, between the rows of photovoltaic brackets, dozens of Chinese and Algerian workers in orange vests and safety hats were working together to stabilize them.
To meet its 2030 target, the Algerian government launched the first phase of a 2-gigawatt photovoltaic power development plan in 2023. The 200-megawatt Tendla photovoltaic power plant in El M'Ghair Province, contracted to China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd. (CSCEC) Algeria, is a key project within this plan. Construction began in March last year, generating around 500 local jobs.
"In the nearby El Oued Province, we are also building a 300-megawatt photovoltaic power plant," said Han Bo, a Chinese engineer on the project.
Once both plants are fully operational, they are expected to generate around 850 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.
Walid Yassin, the Algerian engineer overseeing health, safety and environment for the project, highlighted the challenges for working in the desert -- extreme heat, sandstorms and difficult transportation. Despite these obstacles, he is impressed by the project's high safety management standards and the precise installation of the solar modules.
"I have worked on many infrastructure and industrial projects, but here, I truly feel the meaning of sustainable development and the chance to contribute to a cleaner future for my country," said Yassin.
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