The government that eventually emerges out of Tunisia’s fractured new parliament better have a miracle or two up its sleeve to rescue a waning oil and gas sector. Failing to form a cabinet in the one-month deadline, the Ennahda Party-backed PM-designate Habib Jemli has requested an additional month to 12 January.
Current industry minister Slim Feriani has put enormous energy into reinvigorating Tunisia’s energy sector (MEES, 4 October). But a lack of investment over the years combined with natural decline means there was never going to be an easy turnaround. Start-up at the 85mn cfd Nawara gas field and 7,000-8,000 b/d Halk El Menzel oil field should see Tunisia raise output in 2020, but an underlying decline persists. (CONTINUED - 1049 WORDS)
