The Société tunisienne de l’électricité et du gaz (STEG) has announced a new tender for the development of gas engine power plants with a combined capacity of 200 MW. The tender, published on October 4, 2026, involves the construction of multi-site gas engine power plants. Interested companies have until November 6, 2026, at 9:00 AM to submit their bids. The tender is divided into four lots, each corresponding to a specific geographic region: Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast.
The tender requires provisional guarantees of 2.4 million dinars for the first lot, 1.8 million dinars for the second lot, and 900,000 dinars for each of the two southern lots. The financing for the project will be provided through STEG's own funds. This new tender is significant as it follows a previous procedure launched by STEG in 2025 for a 200 MW gas engine power plant program. The previous tender was postponed several times, with a deadline set for February 26, 2026.
The new tender marks a new stage in the development of Tunisia's power generation capacity, with a focus on multi-site and territorial distribution. The details of the tender indicate the four regions and the required guarantees, but do not provide a specific power allocation for each lot. Additionally, no estimated global market value is provided in the available information. The choice of gas engines is made in a particularly constrained energy context, with natural gas still dominating Tunisia's electricity system.
At the end of July 2026, natural gas accounted for 90.8% of Tunisia's national electricity production, according to data published in September. During the same period, national natural gas production decreased by 14% to approximately 0.84 million tons of oil equivalent. Tunisia's energy independence rate also decreased from 46% in 2025 to 42%. This situation highlights the paradox of Tunisia seeking to strengthen its electricity capacity while its national hydrocarbon resources are decreasing.
The STEG itself emphasizes the strong dependence of Tunisia's electricity production on natural gas. However, gas engines offer a sought-after characteristic in a network that integrates more solar and wind power: flexibility. Unlike thermal capacities designed primarily for continuous operation, gas engine power plants can be used to quickly adapt production to changing energy demands.
The new tender is an opportunity for companies to participate in the development of Tunisia's power generation capacity. The project's implementation will help improve the country's energy mix and reduce its dependence on imported energy sources. The selected companies will be responsible for the turnkey construction of the gas engine power plants.
The development of gas engine power plants is a strategic move for Tunisia, as it seeks to enhance its energy security and reduce its reliance on imported energy. The project is expected to contribute to the country's economic growth and development, while also helping to mitigate the impact of climate change.
Key points
- The tender is divided into four lots, each corresponding to a specific geographic region.
- The financing for the project will be provided through STEG's own funds.
- Natural gas still dominates Tunisia's electricity system, accounting for 90.8% of national electricity production.
