馃嚬馃嚦TunisiaNorth Africa
Tunisia's energy vulnerability worsens as national production declines and import dependence grows
via Business News12 min read
Tunisia's energy vulnerability is increasing due to declining national production, rising energy dependence, a widening trade deficit, and greater exposure to geopolitical tensions, according to the Ministry of Industry's report for April 2026. The country's energy dependency rate reached nearly 65% by April 2026, up from approximately 60% a year prior, meaning Tunisia now relies on external sources for almost two-thirds of its energy needs. This dependency exceeds 70% when excluding the Algerian gas transit fee. Primary energy resources decreased by 9% to 1.05 million tons of oil equivalent Mtoe by April 2026, with crude oil and condensate production falling by 7%. Most major oil fields experienced declines, such as Ashtart 64%, Gherib 44%, and Franig-Baguel-Tarfa 50%. Daily oil production dropped from 27,330 barrels per day in April 2025 to 25,390 barrels per day in April 2026. While national commercial gas production remained stable, the transit fee for Algerian gas decreased by 32%, leading to an overall 13% reduction in natural gas resources. The report highlights that 98% of this fee was allocated to the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company Steg to meet national electricity needs. This decline in national production is coupled with a 4% increase in primary energy demand by April 2026, with petroleum products and natural gas each accounting for about 50% of national consumption. Road fuel consumption rose by 5%, representing nearly 62% of total petroleum product consumpt
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