The Tunisian government said recently that it is expected to invest about an equivalent of $1 billion to produce 1,000 mw of power from renewable energy in 2017.

Of the 1000 mw, 350 will be produced by wind power, 650 by photovoltaic energy, according to the Energy General Direction of the Tunisian Ministry of Energy and Mines.

The private sector plans to invest 600 million dollars in development of renewable energy in 2017, it added.

In 2016, Tunisia's electricity production from renewable energy reached 579 gw hours with a total capacity of 342 mw.

Experts say the Tunisian government will be forced to depend more on renewable energy to reduce the electricity production cost that directly affects the country's financial balance.

(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2017)