A large-scale energy transition programme aimed at equipping 300 state facilities with photovoltaic (PV) systems with a total capacity of 30 megawatts (MWp), is currently being implemented by the National Agency for Energy Command (French: ANME). " The aim is to include these facilities in the national energy transition strategy in Tunisia", Director of Solar Energy and Head of ANME's Energy Transition in Public Establishments (TEEP) programme Nafaa Baccari told TAP. This programme covers, in its pilot phase, the equipping of 54 primary and secondary schools in Greater Tunis, Nabeul, Beja and Tozeur with PV systems for self-consumption of electricity, with an overall capacity of 1 Megawatt, at an investment of around TND 3 million. "This will help cover 80% to 100% of these educational institutions' elecricity needs," he pointed out, adding that these PV systems will start operating by end next February. Once completed, the TEEP programme will help achieve annual energy savings of 15,000 tonnes of oil eq uivalent (TOE) and a reduction in CO2 emissions estimated at 35,000 tonnes per year. Baccari further indicated that the first phase of this programme aims to equip 119 higher education institutions nationwide with PV systems with a capacity of 4 MWp. The call for tenders for this project, estimated to cost TND 12 million, has already been launched. This first phase will also help set up PV panels in some forty buildings in 16 ministries, including the Ministries of Defence, of Health, etc. These panels will have an overall capacity of 20 MWp and will require an investment of TND 60 million. The ANME seeks, int eh second phase, to equip 100 other public institutions in several governorates with PV systems with a total capacity of 5 MWp, with an investment of TND 15 million. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse