unisia aims to quintuple phosphate production to 14 million tons by 2030, the government said on Wednesday, part of a plan to revive the vital sector to help revive Tunisia’s ailing public finances.
Tunisia was once one of the world’s biggest producers of phosphate minerals, which are used in the manufacture of fertilizers, but its market share fell after the 2011 revolution. Since then, localized protests and strikes have steadily reduced production, causing billions of dollars in losses.
Tunisia’s phosphate production is now less than 3 million tons per year, down from about 8.2 million tons in 2010.
Tunisia, which is suffering from a severe financial crisis, is trying to regain its position as a leading exporter of phosphate in order to take advantage of a sharp rise in the price of fertilizer.
The government said in a statement after a cabinet meeting that it had approved a program to develop phosphate production and transport in the 2025-2030 period.
“Phosphate is a national asset that must regain its position, which has always contributed significantly to the strengthening of financial resources and thus to the recovery of the economy,” the statement said.
TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)
