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Mining industry of Tunisia

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Salt evaporation pondoperations atZarzis

Themining industry of Tunisiafocuses mainly onphosphateproducts such asfertilizer,industrial minerals (gypsum,clay,lime),iron ore,andsalt.Mine ownership is limited to theGovernment of Tunisia,althoughoperation by private entitiesis encouraged.

History

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Tunisian mines (1922)

Mining has been practiced in the country since the times of the Berber, Roman, Arab, and French empires. In 1890, many areas were discovered for mining extractions.Zincmining began in 1892, iron ore mining in 1906, and phosphate mining in 1996.[1]

In Parry'sCarthage and Tunis: Past and present: In two parts(1869), he discusses mining during lateOttoman Tunisia:

There are in Tunisia two lead mines, slightly argentiferous, at Jeba and at Jeladja. Some beds of iron are at Gebel Zerissa and in several other mountains lying along the frontiers of Algeria. Most of the mines are situated in the northwest part of the regency. Marine salt is taken from several sebkas or shallow salt lakes, where it is embedded on the surface in large quantities. Gebel Hadifa contains a considerable mine of rock salt. Plaster and lime are extracted on a large scale in the central and southern provinces, and soda is furnished, especially by the district of Cairwan. "[2]

During the colonial period, when Tunisia was aprotectorate of France,mining was a major part of the economy, particularly in rural areas.Gendarmeswere formed by the colonial police force and were used to suppress labor unrest, particularly during theGreat Depression.This led to unemployment in the mining industry due to increased economic prices.[3]

By 1962, mining labor unions accounted for 11% of organized labor (second only to government employees).[4]Jobs in mining began decreasing in Tunisia during the 1970s, as operations transitioned from underground mining to open-pit mining.[5]Following the 2010Tunisian Revolutionin which PresidentZine El Abidine Ben Aliwas deposed, mining in Tunisia declined. This was followed by nationwide labour disputes and strikes.[6]Opposition to the hiring practices at the mines of theCompagnie des phosphates de GafsainGafsaresulted in a protest at the operations lasting over six months. In 2011, further protests continued for more than three years at the mines inMoularèsandRedeyef,resulting in blockaded roads and the halting of mining operations.[5]

Production and impact

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A phosphate mine in Tunisia (c. 1930)
Headquarters, Société du Djebel Djerissa (1907)

Tunisia is the fifth largest exporter of phosphates in the world.[7]Extraction of phosphate is the most important mining sector in the country, boosting the economy through exports by some 45%. The mineral sector as a whole contributes to 3% of the GDP.[8]Iron ore is extracted at the underground mine atDjerissaand also at the open-pits ofTameraandDouaria;this activity is done by theSociété du Djebel Djerissa,which is a public sector undertaking.[8]

Mining in Central Tunisia and the north–south axis area, covering an area of 43,000 square kilometres (17,000 sq mi), is not fully developed, but iron ore is being extracted to a considerable degree. In the northeast of central Tunisia, extraction offluorineandbarytehave been very substantial.[1]

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Mining andmineral explorationis legislated by the Tunisian Mining Code (law No. 2003–30 of April 28, 2003). Laws on fuel minerals are the Hydrocarbons Code (law No. 99–93 of August 17, 1999) and its supplement (law No. 2002–23 of February 2002). The government of Tunisia develops geological and geophysical maps through theNational Office of Mines,and regulates all mining operations, which are government owned.[6]Despite the public ownership of all mines in Tunisia, private operation of the mines is promoted by the National Office of Mines. When a mining operation is started, it is granted a five-year reprieve on taxation, followed by a 25% taxation on profits.[6]

Outlook

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Production of phosphate rock and phosphate fertilizers are likely to increase with the commissioning of the Celamin and the TIFERT projects. Cement export is expected to get a boost with exports toAlgeria.[6]

Further information on phosphates at:Sra Ouertene mine

References

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  1. ^ab"History of the mining activity in Tunisia".Office national des Mines.Retrieved11 June2015.
  2. ^Perry 1869,p. 379.
  3. ^Thomas, Martin (2012).Violence and Colonial Order: Police, Workers and Protest in the European Colonial Empires, 1918–1940.Cambridge Press. p. 112.ISBN9780521768412.
  4. ^Carter, Florence (1965).Labor Law and Practice in Tunisia.Washington DC: United States Department of Labor. p. 32.
  5. ^abGall, Carlotta (13 May 2014)."Tunisian Discontent Reflected in Protests That Have Idled Mines".The New York Times.Retrieved31 May2015.
  6. ^abcdMowafa, Taib."The Mineral Industry of Tunisia"(PDF).United States Geological Survey.Retrieved31 May2015.
  7. ^"Mineral resources – Mining indications".National Office of Mines.Retrieved7 June2015.
  8. ^ab"Mining in Tunisia – Overview".mbendi. Archived fromthe originalon 29 January 2001.Retrieved11 June2015.

Bibliography

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