A cooperation and partnership agreement between the National Agency for Energy Control and the Banking and Financial Council

A cooperation and partnership agreement between the National Agency for Energy Control and the Banking and Financial Council was signed today, Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in the capital. The agreement was signed by Mr. Fathi Hanchi, Director General of the Agency, and Mr. Nagi Ghandri, President of the Banking and Financial Council, in the presence of officials from financial institutions and executives from the Agency and the Council.

The purpose of the agreement is to strengthen the role of the banking and financial sector in achieving the national strategy for energy transition, a result of years of close collaboration between the two institutions to enhance financing mechanisms and solutions supporting the energy transition policy in Tunisia and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, in line with the goals of the Tunisian national contribution.

As part of this agreement, the ‘Green Banking’ initiative will also be launched, in addition to the distribution of a guide on financing mechanisms and solutions integrated into a digital platform that includes awareness measures.

In a speech delivered for the occasion, Mr. Fathi Hanchi emphasized the importance of cooperation between the Council and the Agency, which will support the achievement of the objectives of the national energy transition strategy and its role in its implementation through the financing of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in accordance with international standards, with the aim of contributing to strengthening energy sustainability, which requires massive investments that this agreement will help finance.

For his part, Mr. Nagi Ghandri confirmed that the signing of the cooperation agreement with the National Agency for Energy Control marks the beginning of a new era of cooperation and joint commitment to support the energy transition, through the implementation of concrete and effective measures by the banking sector, which strives to play a decisive and central role in the financial support of energy initiatives. He indicated that this agreement represents an important step towards a responsible and sustainable energy future.

This agreement includes the following areas of cooperation:

✔️ Developing a financing system in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energies, while taking all measures to preserve the sustainability of the system,

✔️ Preparing a practical guide on financing mechanisms and solutions supported by the Energy Transition Fund and banks and financial institutions in the field of energy transition and emission reduction, and integrating them into a digital platform,

✔️ Organizing regional seminars and workshops for awareness and information for the benefit of institutions to present these financing solutions and provide close support,

✔️ Launching a comprehensive program for a ‘Green Banking initiative’ aimed at reducing the carbon content of financial institutions’ activities by implementing energy efficiency measures and producing a portion of their energy needs from renewable energies,

✔️ Working on the development of a digital system to assess the carbon footprint of the banking and financial sector’s activities,

✔️ Accelerating the financing of eligible projects in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energies,

✔️ Working to reduce and remove related obstacles to enhance the role of the banking and financial sector in achieving the goals of the national energy transition strategy and its role in its implementation,

✔️ Strengthening the exchange of expertise between the two parties in the field of identification and evaluation of projects in the field of renewable energies and energy efficiency."