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Friday, 21 August 2026dailybeirut.com
World
Tunisian President Kais Saied dismissed Energy Minister Fatima Thabet on Tuesday amid escalating controversy over renewable energy projects set for a parliamentary vote. No reason was given for her removal, with Equipment Minister Salah al-Din Zawari appointed as interim replacement. The disputed legislation involves 600-megawatt projects worth €500 million, part of Tunisia’s push to expand clean energy. However, opposition MPs and politicians condemn the deals as “energy colonialism,” criticizing the exclusion of state-owned Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company and the awarding of contracts exclusively to foreign firms. The dismissal highlights deep divisions over Tunisia's energy strategy.
Tunisian President Kais Saied dismissed Energy Minister Fatima Thabet today, Tuesday, amid growing controversy over renewable energy projects set to be voted on in parliament today.
Saied said he assigned Equipment and Housing Minister Salah al-Din Zawari to temporarily oversee the ministry, without providing any reasons for his decision.
The minister's dismissal comes as Saied's government seeks to pass energy legislation related to renewable energy, to be put to a parliamentary vote later today, Tuesday.
The total capacity of the projects is 600 megawatts, with an estimated investment of approximately 500 million euros (585 million dollars).
These projects are part of Tunisia's efforts to expand clean energy production. In contrast, some MPs and politicians oppose these projects, describing them as "energy colonialism."
They also criticized the exclusion of the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company from these contracts, considering it unacceptable that they were awarded exclusively to foreign companies.
