🇹🇳TunisiaNorth Africa
Tunisia's Assembly of People's Representatives approves key loan for phosphate rail network modernization
via Business News2 min read
Tunisia's Assembly of People's Representatives adopted a bill on April 21, 2026, approving a loan agreement signed on October 16, 2025, with the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development. This loan will finance a major project to renew and modernize railway lines dedicated to phosphate transport. The bill passed with 71 votes in favor, two abstentions, and five against. The project aims to enhance phosphate and derivative transport capabilities, increase flow volumes, and improve the sector's overall performance, which is a cornerstone of the national economy. The program targets several sections of the railway network in southern Tunisia, across the governorates of Gabès, Gafsa, and Sfax. It includes rehabilitating and modernizing approximately 190.5 kilometers of priority railway tracks and constructing a pre-stressed concrete sleeper production unit. Key lines involved are Line 5 Gabès, Line 14 Gafsa, Line 17 Sfax, and Line 21, which connects Gabès and Gafsa over nearly 129 kilometers and is central to the project. Beyond infrastructure work, the project also covers technical services, including study updates, tender preparation, assistance in selecting companies, and execution monitoring. The total project cost is estimated at approximately 165.5 million dollars, or nearly 500 million dinars. The loan from the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development amounts to 16 million Kuwaiti dinars, equivalent to about 153 million Tunisian dinars, and will fully fund the rem
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
Must ReadThe General Federation of Electricity and Gas, part of the Tunisian General Labor Union UGTT, held a press conference on April 21, 2026, to express its concerns regarding draft laws on renewable energy production concessions. The UGTT criticized its exclusion from discussions on this strategic issue, emphasizing its historical role in national matters and the importance of energy sovereignty. While supporting renewable energy development, the federation opposes the current model, which it believes favors private, often foreign, investors over the public operator, the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company Steg. The UGTT asserted that Steg possesses the technical capabilities and human resources to lead renewable energy projects, with tenders ready since 2020 awaiting government approval. The union also raised concerns about carbon credits, advocating that potential revenues should fund national investments and support the public company. It warned that the current concession policy risks foreign domination of electricity production, potentially increasing dependence and prioritizing external market logic over national needs, especially with projects aimed at exporting electricity to Europe. The federation also highlighted the financial burden on public finances due to contract extensions and revisions within existing concessions. The UGTT called for a national dialogue involving public authorities, parliament, Steg, social partners, experts, and civil society to redefine the co
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