Tunisia

The UNIDO team, together with the National Engineering School of Tunis (ENIT) and in support of the Tunisian Ministry of Industry and Energy (MIME), organized a stakeholder workshop for educational institutions on green hydrogen skills along local value chains. In many countries dealing with green hydrogen, including Tunisia, there's a need to upskill and reskill existing technical areas to generate local employment opportunities. Under the Global Programme for Hydrogen in Industry, the UNIDO team has developed a comprehensive methodology to identify and address human capital gaps for the value chain of green hydrogen. ✅ With the opening remarks of Mr. Belhassen Chiboub, from the Ministry of Industry and Energy, Her Excellency the Austrian Ambassador to Tunisia, Ms. Ulla Kraus-Nussbaumer, and Mr. Lassaad Ben Hassine, Tunisia Country Representative Office (UNIDO), the workshop marked the starting point to map essential skills and occupational profiles across all stages of the hydrogen value chain in Tunisia. ✅ The UNIDO team presented the UNIDO methodology for conducting skills gap assessments, aiming to optimize resources to tackle potential deficiencies in countries like Tunisia.  ✅ Two-panel discussions, one dedicated to technical universities and the other to vocational centres, aimed at strategizing education plans to cultivate local talent in green hydrogen-related fields. Featuring European experts and representatives from Hydrogen Europe Research, Technische Universität Wien, Technische Universität Graz, and HyCentA Research GmbH, alongside key figures from the private sector, diverse government ministries, and national and international organizations including Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and International Labour Organization, the workshop was marked by active engagement. More than 100 participants, with approximately 50% women participation, gathered in a unique workshop facilitating discussions among peers from different levels of technical education. This diverse gathering fostered interactive dialogue and paved the way for multi-sectoral partnerships. 🤝 With the support of the Austrian Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK).  

TUNIS - More than 80 Tunisian and Austrian stakeholders, with 30 percent of women representation, gathered in a technical workshop on green hydrogen and water-related impacts. The event was co-organized by UNIDO in cooperation with the Austrian Ministry of Climate Action (BMK) to discuss future collaboration and projects in hydrogen between Tunisia and Austria. As with other European countries with a strong industrial sector, Austria is prepared to invest in cutting-edge and climate-neutral technologies for green steel and chemicals, and to minimize their carbon footprint. Achieving decarbonization objectives require vast quantities of green hydrogen and green electricity, which requires large investments, along with the development of transport infrastructure/trade corridors and collaborative partnerships. Specifics of the Austrian hydrogen strategy and climate commitments were presented by a representative of the BMK. Whereas, the Tunisian strategy, currently under development was introduced by a representative of the Tunisian Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy who stressed challenges, such as water scarcity in Tunisia.Tunisia's strategic geographic location, vast renewable energy potential, and stable political situation are excellent conditions for the country to become a producer of green hydrogen, both for internal and external markets. Green hydrogen production can help decarbonize Tunisian metallurgical, ceramic and glass sectors; and create new sustainable industries such as fertilizers based on green ammonia. It also has the potential to become a catalyst to meet Central Europe's, including Austria's hydrogen needs across industries, transportation, and energy. Participants discussed that the current gas corridor between North Africa and Southern Europe can be repurposed to transport large quantities of cost-competitive green hydrogen from Tunisia through Italy to central Europe, including Austria leveraging existing gas infrastructure.The discussions pointed out that:It is fundamental to take into consideration and understand how green hydrogen can be integrated into the country’s renewable energy portfolio and be deployed in industries. Green hydrogen production should not absorb renewable electricity capacities, thereby, decelerating domestic energy transition.Green hydrogen market development opens new opportunities for developed and developing countries. To succeed, the existing market barriers must be addressed. These include the lack of coordination, skills and competencies, financing and investment mechanisms, policies, and regulations.