عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Interviews

Tunisia’s Energy Minister Expects Promising Agreements With Algeria Soon

Tunisia’s Energy and Mines Minister Mongi Marzouk
Tunisia’s Energy and Mines Minister Mongi Marzouk
TT
TT

Tunisia’s Energy Minister Expects Promising Agreements With Algeria Soon

Tunisia’s Energy and Mines Minister Mongi Marzouk
Tunisia’s Energy and Mines Minister Mongi Marzouk

Tunisia’s Energy and Mines Minister Mongi Marzouk revealed that he is undertaking official deliberations with his Algerian counterpart, Mohamed Arkab, to speed up the drafting and signing of a new gas deal.
It is noteworthy that Algerian gas supplies two-thirds of Tunisia’s consumption.

Marzouk, in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, said that Tunisian-Algerian economic talks were “very positive,” and involved renewable energy as well as oil, gas and electricity distribution between Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Libya.

Current Tunisian-Algerian talks also tackled improving the conditions for supplying Libya with electricity produced in southern Tunisia.

Among the current efforts and ideas for improving Libya’s energy supply is the construction of a large power station near the industrial port of Skhira (200 km from the Tunisian-Libyan border). Initially, the energy output will be directed to Libya and then branch out to the rest of the Northwest African region.

Marzouk also revealed that Tunisian-Algerian talks on developing the partnership between the two countries in the hydrocarbons, electricity and renewable energy sectors had advanced a while ago.

According to the minister, it is expected that the two countries will sign a new energy contract that extends until 2030. The validity of the old contract expired last December, and it was temporarily renewed for two months.

The new contract is believed to include reduced preferential prices.

As for the Nawara Development Project, which is expected to produce a third of Tunisia’s gas consumption, Marzouk said the gas field is located in the African country’s far east and was set to produce around two million cubic meters. The project, however, faced some technical challenges that led to halving its production, Marzouk noted.

“A British institution was invited to solve these technical problems, but the coronavirus pandemic and the decision to close airports and impose quarantine on travelers arriving from abroad caused a delay in technical intervention by British engineers,” he added, noting that the reparation process will now take place remotely.

Most Viewed

 
 
Interviews

FAO Official: Gulf States Shielded Themselves from Major Shocks

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
TT
TT

FAO Official: Gulf States Shielded Themselves from Major Shocks

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), told Asharq al-Awsat that global hunger increased sharply during the coronavirus pandemic, noting that the GCC countries were able to shield themselves from major shocks affecting food security.
Laborde added that global hunger affected over 152 million people, with no improvement in the past two years.
Today, 733 million people suffer from chronic hunger, and 2.3 billion face food insecurity, according to the UN annual report on “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.”

Laborde explained that the global economic crisis has worsened food insecurity, keeping hunger levels high.
Alongside this, climate shocks and conflicts are major causes of hunger. He also pointed out that food insecurity is closely tied to inequality, and the economic crisis, rising living costs, and high interest rates are deepening existing inequalities both within and between countries.
On whether economic diversification in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is boosting food security, Laborde said: “A move towards a more diversified economy and enhancing the ability to rely on various sources of food supplies are key drivers of food security resilience and stability.”
“GCC countries have managed to shield themselves from major shocks, primarily due to their high income levels and ability to cover import costs without difficulty,” he explained.
Regarding the FAO’s outlook on reducing global hunger, Laborde insisted that ending hunger will require a significant increase in funding.
When asked for suggestions on how governments could enhance food security, Laborde said: “Despite global figures remaining stable, improvements are seen in Asia and Latin America, showing that the right policies and conditions can reduce numbers.”
“Hunger is not inevitable. Investing in social safety nets to protect the poor, along with making structural changes to food systems to be more environmentally friendly, resilient, and equitable, is the right path forward,” emphasized Laborde.
The annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, published on Wednesday, said about 733 million people faced hunger in 2023 – one in 11 people globally and one in five in Africa.
Hunger and food insecurity present critical challenges affecting millions globally.
The annual report, released this year during the G20 Global Alliance for Hunger and Poverty Task Force ministerial meeting in Brazil, warns that the world is significantly lagging in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2—ending hunger by 2030.
It highlights that global progress has regressed by 15 years, with malnutrition levels comparable to those seen in 2008-2009.
Despite some progress in areas like stunting and exclusive breastfeeding, a troubling number of people still face food insecurity and malnutrition, with global hunger levels rising.