A protest movement demanding jobs and investment in Tunisia’s deep south has shut in a large portion of the country’s oil and gas output for two months, putting pressure on government finances and risking the exodus of key firms.

On 16 July the ‘Kamour movement’ turned off the SP4 pumping station that normally carries about half of Tunisia’s overall crude output to the Skhira oil terminal for export to mostly European markets. Gas production from southern Tunisia is down about 40% (mostly associated gas) according to an industry source. (CONTINUED - 742 WORDS)