STEG Prepares 300 MW of Battery Storage Across 10 Sites to Prevent Power Outages
Tunisia is taking a new step in strengthening its electrical storage capabilities. The Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company (STEG) has launched an international tender for the implementation of battery energy storage systems with a total capacity of 300 megawatts (MW), equivalent to 600 megawatt-hours (MWh). The project, named BESS, plans to install ten units distributed across the North, Center, and South of the country. This initiative comes as authorities seek to better manage the balance between electricity production and consumption and to prevent new load shedding.
Registered under number 2026 E 4017, this tender covers the turnkey implementation of the facilities. It encompasses all operations, from the design and supply of equipment to their installation, commissioning, and maintenance. The systems must meet international standards for performance, safety, and cybersecurity.
The system will be deployed across ten sites, divided into three batches. In the North, four installations are planned in Ben Arous, Gaâfour, Mateur, and Kchabta, with a combined capacity of 105 MW and 210 MWh. The Central batch comprises three sites in Msaken, Ksour Essef, and Bir Lahfey, representing 90 MW and 180 MWh. In the South, the installations in Gabès Sud, Médenine, and Midoun will total 105 MW and 210 MWh.
In detail, the planned capacities range from 15 MW to 37.5 MW per site. The installations in Gaâfour, Kchabta, Médenine, and Midoun will each have a capacity of 37.5 MW, while those in Ben Arous and Mateur will each reach 15 MW. The remaining sites will each have a capacity of 30 MW.
An initial phase of 150 MW is targeted before the summer of 2027
This project aligns with the guidelines presented by Slah Zouari, the acting Minister of Industry, on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, before the industry and productive sectors committees of the Parliament and the National Council of Regions and Districts.
The minister confirmed the launch of a tender for an initial storage capacity of 150 MW, while specifying that the selection of suppliers and the final determination of battery installation sites were not yet complete. The department’s overall target remains set at 300 MW.
According to Slah Zouari, the ministry aims to deploy an initial tranche of 150 MW before the summer of 2027, with an initial operationalization of 50% of this capacity. Once all batteries are installed and ready to operate, the total storage capacity is expected to reach at least 300 MW.
The details provided in STEG’s specifications give concrete shape to this ambition, with ten identified sites and a territorial distribution covering the country’s main regions. The procedure requires the participation of companies or consortiums with proven track records and confirmed experience in battery storage systems. Bids must be submitted through the national public procurement platform TUNEPS.
The initial deadline for bid submission, set for October 29, 2026, has been postponed to November 11, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., following the publication of two addenda to the tender documents. The first addendum addresses several administrative and financial modifications, while the second concerns the technical specifications of the inverters. The opening of the technical and financial bids is scheduled for the same day at 10:00 a.m. at STEG’s headquarters.
Narrowing the gap between supply and demand
Beyond the investment in equipment, the issue also concerns the security of electricity supply. Slah Zouari stated that Tunisia continues to regularly import quantities of electricity from Algeria. The ministry is working in parallel on redistribution mechanisms and the mobilization of additional capacities to better manage demand and reduce the gap between supply and consumption.
The stated objective is to avoid the recurrence of load shedding recorded in 2026 and to better meet the network's needs in 2027. In this context, the development of battery storage constitutes an additional lever to enhance the flexibility of the electrical system and improve the management of available electricity.
Frequently asked questions
What is the total capacity of the battery storage system that STEG is tendering to prevent power outages in Tunisia?
STEG is launching an international tender for a 300 MW battery energy storage system, equivalent to 600 MWh. This project aims to balance electricity production and consumption to prevent new load shedding across the country.
How many battery storage sites are planned for the northern batch of the STEG BESS project, and what is their combined capacity?
The northern batch includes four installations in Ben Arous, Gaâfour, Mateur, and Kchabta with a combined capacity of 105 MW and 210 MWh. These sites are part of a ten-unit distribution strategy across North, Center, and South regions.
What specific operational goal does the Tunisian ministry state for deploying 300 MW of battery storage by 2027?
The ministry aims to avoid the recurrence of load shedding recorded in 2026 and better meet network needs in 2027. This deployment enhances electrical system flexibility and improves the management of available electricity supply.