Italy and Japan, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), are set to support the construction of a biomethane plant on the Tunisian island of Djerba.
The facility will process organic waste generated by the island’s hotels, with the aim of cutting pollution and boosting the local economy.
A technical meeting chaired by the Governor of Medenine, Walid Tabboubi, has confirmed the feasibility of the project and finalised the tender documents.
The session brought together senior officials from the National Energy Management Agency (ANME) and the National Waste Management Agency (ANGED), alongside representatives from the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company (STEG) and local municipalities. All parties reiterated their commitment to ensuring the project moves forward swiftly.
According to UNDP, the proposed plant will be capable of treating six tonnes of organic waste annually, offering a significant contribution to both environmental protection and sustainable economic development.
The transition to a circular economy is also expected to generate new green jobs and reinforce the island’s resilience to climate pressures.
Djerba, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is being positioned as a model for combining environmental sustainability with economic growth.
The initiative is being overseen by Tunisia’s Ministries of Environment and Industry, and forms part of the government’s wider strategy to scale up waste-to-energy projects nationwide.
By 2035, Tunisia aims to increase waste-to-energy production by 40 per cent while cutting the volume of landfill waste by 54 per cent.
Officials stressed that the project is not only an environmental necessity but also a concrete development opportunity for Tunisia’s energy transition.
Italy and Japan back biomethane plant project in Djerba
