Toyota Tsusho Corporation said it has begun commercial operations at two solar power plants in Tunisia with a combined capacity of 100 MW, marking its first renewable energy project in the country. The projects, developed through its group company AEOLUS SAS, are located in the Sidi Bouzid and Tozeur governorates. The company said the development also represents AEOLUS’s first investment project.
The Sidi Bouzid Mezzouna solar plant, with a capacity of 50 MW, began commercial operations on Jan. 1, 2026, while the 50 MW Tozeur plant started operations on March 4, 2026. The projects were developed through a joint operating company backed by AEOLUS and Scatec ASA.
Electricity generated from the plants will be supplied to Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas under a power supply arrangement. The total project cost is estimated at about 79 million euros ($85 million), the company said. The development marks Toyota Tsusho’s entry into Tunisia’s renewable energy sector as it continues to expand its presence in Africa’s solar market.
Solar Project in Africa
Electricity from the plants will be supplied to Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas under a 30-year agreement, the company said. Both projects were selected under Japan’s Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) Model Projects programme for fiscal 2023, supported by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.
The programme provides financial support of up to half of the initial investment costs for projects deploying advanced decarbonisation technologies in developing countries, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Under the mechanism, Japan receives carbon credits towards its emissions reduction targets in cooperation with partner countries, including Tunisia.
Securing Project Financing 
Photograph: (Toyota Tsusho Corporation)
Project financing also includes support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Proparco (Société de Promotion et de Participation pour la Coopération Economique). EBRD loans include concessional financing mobilised through the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which support climate and environmental protection measures in developing countries.
Construction of the Sidi Bouzid Mezzouna PV Power project began in August 2024, with commercial operations starting on January 1, 2026. Similarly, construction of the Tozeur PV Power project began in August 2024, with commercial operations commencing on March 4, 2026.