Heatwave hits North Africa, with power cuts in Tunisia and wildfires in Algeria

Lead

A severe heatwave has pushed Tunisia's electricity grid to its limits, causing widespread power outages across the country, while neighboring Algeria has seen more than 100 people hospitalized due to wildfires. Temperatures in Tunisia have reached as high as 49°C, and the state electricity and gas company STEG has been issuing daily alerts listing neighborhoods where it would cut power to ease pressure on the national grid.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from multiple outlets, including Africa News, AllAfrica, and RFI English, converge on the basic facts: STEG has been managing controlled outages to prevent a nationwide blackout, and electricity demand may have hit a record 6 gigawatts on Tuesday, up from 5.6 gigawatts just days earlier. STEG chief executive Faycel Trifa attributed the strain to heavy air conditioner use, according to reports. The Young Doctors' Association has recorded nearly 150 heatwave-related deaths.

The coverage also highlights the human impact, with residents describing power cuts lasting up to six hours or more. One vendor, Mohamed Ali, told RFI's reporter in El Fahs that he avoids stocking food because the power cuts out every two hours. An employee at a pastry shop in Tunis said, "It feels like God has opened the gates of hell," as cakes sat in the dark and refrigerators stopped running.

While all three sources note the role of human-driven climate change, the framing differs slightly. Africa News places emphasis on the human toll and infrastructure issues, while AllAfrica and RFI present a more neutral, informative tone focusing on the strain on the electricity network. A claim about Tunisia's ageing grid, insufficient maintenance, and declining domestic gas production appeared only in one of the reports but was presented as contributing factors by that outlet.

Key Claims

The power outages stem from a heatwave with temperatures up to 49°C, and STEG has been issuing daily heat alerts. Heavy air conditioner use pushed the network to its limit, according to STEG's CEO. Electricity demand reached a record 6 gigawatts on Tuesday, as reported by a company official on state television. Nearly 150 heatwave-related deaths have been recorded by the Young Doctors' Association. President Kais Saied called for accountability and ordered immediate measures to address water and electricity outages, which he described as "abnormal phenomena." Tunisian business groups, including employers' organisation CONECT, fear economic damage, citing the lack of precise schedules for planned cuts. Experts like Héla Tlili, an economics lecturer at Tunis El Manar University, argue for faster renewable energy development, noting Tunisia's solar and wind potential but the challenge of energy storage.

Perspectives

President Kais Saied and Government: President Saied has characterized the outages as an "abnormal phenomenon" and called for those responsible to be held accountable, ordering immediate measures to address water and electricity shortages.

STEG (State Utility): STEG defends the controlled outages as necessary to prevent a nationwide blackout, citing record demand and heavy air conditioner use as the immediate cause of the strain.

Tunisian Business Groups (CONECT): Employers' organisation CONECT has expressed concern over the economic impact, noting that the unpredictable nature of the cuts hampers companies' ability to prepare for production.

Academic Experts: Héla Tlili, an economics lecturer at Tunis El Manar University, emphasizes the need for accelerated renewable energy development, highlighting Tunisia's solar and wind potential but also the significant challenge of electricity storage.

Residents and Civil Society: Residents have shared experiences of prolonged outages, and the Young Doctors' Association has documented nearly 150 heatwave-related deaths, underscoring the human toll of the crisis.