For the first time since 1960, no hydrocarbon exploration wells were recorded in Tunisia in 2022, a year in which hydrocarbon production fell by 11%, according to the annual report “Les annales de l’énergie 2022” published by the Tunisian Oil and Gas Association (ATPG).
However, the year 2022 was marked by the award of two exploration permits and one hydrocarbon drilling concession, at a time when hydrocarbon production is in steady decline.
Indeed, hydrocarbon production was 3.62 million tons of oil equivalent (toe) in 2022, 11% less than in 2021, 29% less than in 2015 and 50% less than in 2010.
The report also highlighted the fact that national consumption of petroleum products was 4.54 million tons (MTO), while production by the Société tunisienne des industries de raffinage (STIR) fell by 12.4% to 1.43 MTO compared with 2021.
3.38 MTO of petroleum products were imported by STIR to meet domestic demand.
Difficulties in supplying the domestic market led to fuel rationing in August and October 2022 and recourse to security stocks.
In addition, five price adjustments were made in February, March, April, September and November 2022, resulting in a cumulative annual increase of 23.7% in the price of ordinary diesel and 20.4% in the price of unleaded petrol.
It should be remembered that the energy trade balance deficit widened by 72% in 2022 compared with 2021, to reach 9667 million dinars, according to the monthly bulletin of the National Energy and Mines Observatory.
Exports rose by 59% in value terms, while imports increased by 67%, particularly imports of natural gas. National oil production fell by 13% in 2022, to just over 1.7 million toe.
