Day: July 10, 2024

Tunis: The sky is not very cloudy, on Wednesday, throughout the country. Clouds will sometimes be dense on the northern coasts, according to the daily bulletin of the National Institute of Meteorology ( INM).

Maximum temperatures will be between 29 and 35 degrees near the northern coasts and in coastal areas, and between 36 and 41 degrees elsewhere. They will be between 43 and 49 degrees to the southwest with blows of sirocco.

The wind will blow from the northern sector to the north, and from the eastern sector to the center and the south, weak to moderate. Its speed will be relatively stronger in the afternoon, near the coast and to the south.

The sea will be slightly rough to rough.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: The World Bank has announced the appointment of Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye as the new Country Director for the Maghreb and Malta. He succeeds Jesko Hentschel, who has served in the position for the last five years. Ndiaye will lead the World Bank’s engagements with the governments of Algeria, Libya, Malta, Morocco, and Tunisia, development partners, and other stakeholders on initiatives aligned with the countries’ priorities and the World Bank’s vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet.

Based in Rabat, Ndiaye will lead the World Bank’s strategic partnerships in the Maghreb and Malta and oversee a financing portfolio of $11.5 billion, as well as the provision of important innovative knowledge, policy recommendations, and advisory services. He will lead the World Bank’s efforts in supporting the different countries in achieving their respective development priorities including inclusive growth, private sector job creation, climate resilience, critical infrastructure access and human ca
pital development, especially for women and youth.

Ndiaye brings over 25 years of development experience to his new role, having held a range of operational and leadership positions at the global and country level, including in Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. He has forged a strong track record of delivering impactful results tailored to unique country contexts. Prior to his current appointment, he was the World Bank’s Director of Strategy and Operations for Equitable Finance and Inclusive Growth. A Senegalese national, Mr. Ndiaye holds a Master’s degree from the ESCP Business School in France and is fluent in English and French, as well as his native Wolof.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: The national crude oil production stood at 576 kilotons (kt), at the end of May 2024, a drop of 12% compared to the end of May 2023, according to the National Crude Oil Observatory of Energy and Mines.

The daily average of oil production increased from 33.8 thousand barrels/d at the end of May 2023, to 29.8 thousand barrels/d at the end of May 2024, the Observatory said in its monthly report on the energy situation of May 2024, published Tuesday.

This decline affected several fields, namely Gherib (-34%), Ashtart (-16%), Baraka (-51%), El Hajeb/Guebiba (-13%), M.L.D (-21%), El borma (- 7%), Halk el Manzel (-17%) and Nawara (-12%).

Conversely, other fields recorded an increase in production, namely Sidi Marzoug (+11%), Bir Ben Tartar (+79%), Sidi Litayem (+28%) and Ch.Essaida (+25%).

// 20% drop in natural gas resources//

Natural gas resources (national production + tax package) reached 907 ktoe at the end of May 2024, recording a drop of 20% compared to the same period of 2023.

The production of
dry commercial gas decreased by 30%, the royalty on the passage of Algerian gas recorded a drop of 2% at the end of May 2024 compared to the end of May 2023, standing at 408 ktoe.

The distribution of the total royalty between the royalty transferred to STEG and the exported royalty shows that the largest part is transferred to STEG (85%).

The tax package on the passage of Algerian gas fell significantly during the first half of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic, which affected Europe, particularly Italy, had a strong impact on the demand for energy. As a result, this affected the gas quantity which transits from Algeria to Italy through Tunisia.

Yet, an improvement was observed from July 2020 and which continued over the following years.

Algerian gas purchases recorded virtual stability between the end of May 2023 and the end of May 2024, standing at 853 ktoe.

The national natural gas supply recorded a drop of 5% between the end of May 2023 and the end of May 2024 to stand at 1697 ktoe.

Source: Agence Tunis
Afrique Presse

Tunis: The energy trade balance deficit recorded, at the end of May 2024, an increase of 22% (taking into account the royalty on Algerian gas exported via Tunisia) compared to the same period of 2023, to reach 4,606 million dinars (MD), according to the monthly report on the energy situation for May 2024, which was published by the National Observatory of Energy and Mines.

Exports of energy products increased in value by 23% compared to the end of May 2023, amounting to 1,496 MD, the same source said.

The same goes for imports, their value increased by 22%, reaching 6102 MD.

The observatory added that trade in the energy sector remains dependent on three factors, namely the quantities exchanged.

In May 2024, Brent prices recorded an increase of $7/bbl (barrel of oil) compared to May 2023.

During the same period, the Tunisian Dinar recorded a slight deterioration of 1% against the US Dollar, the main currency of exchange for energy products, compared to the same period last year.

Source: Agence Tunis Af
rique Presse

Tunis: Tunisia’s energy independence rate, which represents the ratio of primary energy resources to primary consumption, stood at 45% at the end of May 2024, compared to 52% during the same period of the previous year, according to the monthly report on the energy situation, published by the National Energy and Mines Observatory.

The primary energy balance shows at the end of May 2024, a deficit of 2 tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe), thus recording an increase of 14% compared to the end of May 2023, including royalty.

Without the accounting of the fee, the energy independence rate would be limited to 33% at the end of May 2024 compared to 41% during the same period of 2023.

Primary energy resources stood at 1.6 Mtoe, reporting a drop of 16% compared to the end of May 2023.

This decline is mainly due to the reduction in national production of crude oil and natural gas.

Primary energy resources remain dominated by national production of oil and gas, which both account for 68% of total primary energy resour
ces.

The share of renewable electricity (STEG and private production and self-production) remains modest and represents only 2% of primary resources.

Primary energy demand decreased between the end of May 2023 and the end of May 2024 by 2%. The demand for natural gas fell by 6% whereas demand for petroleum products recorded an increase of 2%.

The drop in demand for natural gas follows the limitation of Algerian gas purchases. To cope with this downward trend and meet the entire national demand for electricity, STEG has relied on importing electricity.

The structure of demand for primary energy registered a slight change. The share of demand for petroleum products increased from 50% at the end of May 2023 to 52% during the same period of 2024. Natural gas, on the other hand, went from 49% at the end of May 2023 to 47% at the end of May 2024.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: The total number of valid permits, at the end of May 2024, is 16 including 15 research permits and one prospecting permit, according to the monthly report on the energy situation for the month of May 2024, published by the National Energy and Mines Observatory.

The total number of concessions is 56, including 44 in production. The State participates through the Tunisian Petroleum Activities Company (French: ETAP) in 34 of these concessions in production.

For exploration operations, the Observatory noted the absence of new seismic acquisition operations at the end of May 2024.

On the other hand, there is a drilling operation of a new exploration well «Aziza-1», in addition to the continuation of drilling of an exploration well «Chaal-2» started in 2023.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: The total electricity production recorded, at the end of May 2024, a slight decrease of 0.5% to stand at 7,026 GWh (including renewable self-production), according to the Energy Situation, published Wednesday by the National Energy and Mines Observatory.

Production intended for the local market, however, recorded a slight increase of 0.3%. Thus, electricity purchases from Algeria and Libya covered 13% of the needs of the local market, during the first five months of 2024.

STEG still retains the lion’s share of electricity production with 96% of national production at the end of May 2024.

Electricity produced from natural gas (STEG + IPP) fell by 2%, while electricity production from renewable energy stood at 5.7%.

245 MW of photovoltaic roofs were installed in residential areas and 314 authorizations were granted for a total power of 112MW in the industrial, tertiary and agricultural sectors, at the end of May of 2024.

It should be noted that the electricity peak registered a drop of 8% to stand a
t 3,073 MW at the end of May 2024 compared to 3,337 MW at the end of May 2023.

Regarding electricity sales, the Observatory reported a decrease of 3% between the end of May 2023 and the end of May 2024, due to the decline in sales by high voltage customers of 14%, and those of medium voltage customers of 0.5%.

Note that low voltage sales are mainly intended for the residential sector (nearly 75% on average).

Industrialists are the largest consumers of electricity with 60% of total demand from High Voltage and Medium Voltage customers, at the end of May 2024.

The majority of sectors recorded a drop in sales, mainly the paper and publishing industry (-17%), IMCCV industries (-13%), basic metallurgical industries (-10%) and industrial Food and Tobacco (-7%). On the other hand, chemical and petroleum industries as well as mining industries reported an increase in sales of 8% and 5% respectively.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: The quantities of grains collected during the 2023/2024 season reached, until July 8, almost 6.01 million quintals, according to the Grains Office.

The governorate of Béja ranks first with 1.6 million quintals, followed by Bizerte with 1.1 million quintals, according to data from the Grains Office published on its official page.

These quantities reached 892,000 quintals in the governorate of Jendouba, Kairouan (599,000 quintals), Siliana (532,000 quintals).

Director General of the Grains Office, Saloua Zouari, said, on Tuesday, that the quantities of grains collected, nationally, exceeded 5 million quintals (durum wheat, soft wheat, barley and triticale), or 90% of harvested areas.

This year’s grain harvest is “average” yet it is better than last year’s, the same source told TAP during a visit to the Kef governorate.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse