On Tuesday, the Tunisian Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy, alongside the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company (STEG) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), finalized two key agreements initiating new technical cooperation projects aimed at boosting productivity and advancing low-carbon energy solutions. These initiatives are scheduled to begin in the latter half of 2024, as announced in a JICA press release that same day.
The initial agreement is focused on the “Kaizen” initiative, aimed at enhancing quality and productivity while promoting business development services (Phase III). This phase is intended to leverage the achievements of its predecessors by further propagating the Kaizen methodology across additional industries and geographic areas within Tunisia. The project also aims to affirm Tunisia’s status as a pivotal hub for propagating the Kaizen philosophy across Africa, especially within Francophone regions, and to support the formal establishment of Kaizen practices in the country.
The subsequent agreement addresses the development of a sustainable, low-carbon electricity supply network in Tunisia, with a particular emphasis on augmenting the skills of STEG’s engineering staff (within the STEG control center) in managing the electrical grid. The project is designed to adapt the electricity supply and demand framework to accommodate the escalating integration of renewable energy resources into Tunisia’s power infrastructure.
Following these agreement signings, JICA is positioned to recruit a comprehensive team of Japanese specialists for each project, who will collaborate with Tunisian counterparts. This partnership aims to facilitate the transfer of Japanese technological expertise and know-how, driving the anticipated success of these technical cooperation ventures.
In addition to deploying Japanese experts, the projects will include targeted training in Tunisia and Japan, tailored to the specific needs of each initiative, as well as the provision of essential equipment and software. These resources are intended to support the execution of planned activities and the attainment of the projects’ goals, as highlighted in the announcement.
The signing event was graced by several dignitaries, including the Tunisian Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Fatma Thabet Chiboub; the Ambassador of Japan to Tunisia, Osuga Takeshi; JICA’s Resident Representative in Tunisia, Miyata Mayumi; the General Director of Electricity and Energy Transition, Belhassen Chiboub; and the STEG Assistant General Manager, Nejib Chtourou.
