Cancellation of Article 47: Reduction of Customs Duties on Solar Panels
The finance and budget committees of the legislative chambers have cancelled Article 47, related to the examination of customs duties imposed on the importation of solar panels.
Background
Article 47 of the 2026 finance bill stipulated a reduction of 15% in the customs duty rates imposed on the importation of solar panels. The government proposed this article to encourage the use of alternative energies, better control the cost of electricity production from solar energy, and install photovoltaic electricity production stations. The initial proposal was to reduce the customs duty rate from 30% to 15%.
Rationale
According to the Secretary of State for Energy Transition, this measure would reduce the cost of electricity production, contributing to the increase in competitiveness of Tunisian industrial products and the reduction of the energy deficit. The Secretary of State explained that the local industry benefits from several customs advantages and that the quality of local products is regularly controlled, emphasizing the need to find a balance between protecting the national industry, guaranteeing product quality, and reducing investment costs.
Current State of the Industry
The Secretary of State presented data indicating that there are 300 companies installing solar systems, compared to only three investing in manufacturing, reflecting the country's currently low industrialization capacity.
Economic Impact
The Secretary of State stated that during the first eight months of 2025, the cost of importing solar panels amounted to 75 million dinars. The 15% reduction would decrease the cost by approximately 13 million dinars, supporting investment and adapting to the objectives of the National Energy Transition Strategy.
