Tunisia gas output slumped to 170mn cfd in October. The only lower figure since Shell’s key offshore Hasdrubal field started up in 2009 came in early 2016 when Petrofac’s Chergui field was shut in due to a series of protests (MEES, 23 September 2016).
Petrofac subsequently decided to quit Tunisia, on 16 December completing the sale of its 45% operator’s stake in Chergui field to France’s Perenco (MEES, 6 July). Dwindling output has left Tunisia reliant on Algeria for 64% of its gas demand whilst delayed additions to power capacity threaten capacity shortages over the coming months (MEES, 21 December). (CONTINUED - 95 WORDS)