Fire at BG Gas facility in Sfax

Civil protection units succeeded in Sfax on the eve of Thursday, February 12, in extinguishing a fire at British Gas refinery close by Hasdrubal , production has been immediately has been shut down took the necessary precautions.

 Journal Sfax (trusted local news website)

Shell leaves Tunisia

After EnQuest who is leaving Tunisian oil and gas market, Shell is doing the same, the Dutch  company, established back in 2010 in Tunisia its regional office in North Africa in charge of exploration and production, has apparently been forced to take this decision to leave because it failed to obtain the necessary permits for exploration.

Why did Enquest Left Tunisia

Because of the ANC, the Tunisian state has lost yet full of money, this time another company (EnQuest [1]) oil has withdrawn 23 Million dollars in capital assets of Tunisia because of the long wait of the Tunisian authorities .

35 Million dollars was part of the capital of 100 Million dollars for the development of a gas field has Zarrat[2] (Gabes) in partnership with PA RESOURCE which holds 45%[3] of the field (55% ETAP Tunisian state) and that could offer more than 400 permanent direct jobs positions.

Basically because of the bureaucratic procedures of the ANC (Constitution national assembly) who literally froze the investments in oil and gas all along 2014 by refusing to extend or even initiate new licenses[4], the energy crisis will be even greater this year knowing that no other company has invest in 2015 particularly because of the international crisis but also because of political instability.

The new appointed minister of energy, Zakaria Hamed, will have a hell job to fix this especially that the chances for investors to came along the energy crisis are quite thin while Tunisia a big push to get away from an economy suffering since the revolution.

[1]  PA Resources and EnQuest terminate farm out agreements - PA Resources postpones release of Year End Report
[2] PA Resources Jumps After Zarat Field Agreement: Stockholm Mover
[3] PA Resources' licences in Tunisia
[4] Tunisia: NCA Energy Commission Refuses to Extend 3 Oil Permits