TUNIS, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- A solar photovoltaic power station built by Chinese companies was inaugurated on Tuesday in central Tunisia's Kairouan province.

Tunisian Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Fatma Thabet Chiboub said at the inauguration ceremony that the project is Tunisia's largest photovoltaic power generation initiative, projected to reduce Tunisia's natural gas imports by approximately 22 million U.S. dollars annually and save around 15 million dollars in fuel costs.

Chiboub said the project's commissioning will help Tunisia diversify its energy mix while meeting growing energy demands and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Hussain Al Nowais, chairman of AMEA Power, a UAE company and developer of the project, said the project is the first renewable energy facility connected to the Tunisia's 225 kV grid, adding that it will strengthen the country's energy security by delivering clean and reliable electricity.

Construction of the power station started in May 2024, carried out by a consortium of Chinese companies.

Xu Zhiyong, a project director from China Energy Engineering Group Tianjin Electric Power Construction Co., Ltd, which jointly designed, built and operates the power station, told Xinhua that Chinese companies have trained a batch of local professionals during the construction process and facilitated the application of advanced new energy technologies and equipment in Tunisia. ■