International energy consultant Ezzeddine Khalfallah said Tunisia’s energy deficit increased by 18% in 2025, attributing this rise to a 10% decline in national energy resources due to lower domestic production of oil and natural gas.
Speaking on Express FM, he noted that falling oil prices were a relatively positive factor, given that a significant share of natural gas production is linked to oil extraction.
He pointed out that Tunisia resorted to importing additional quantities of natural gas from Algeria, with imports rising by 23%, while domestic production declined by 10%.
Regarding exploration and development, he observed a decline in the number of exploration and production permits, which now stands at 12, compared with 57 operating concessions, 44 of which are currently in production.
He pointed out that no new oil wells were drilled in 2025, indicating the absence of new discoveries capable of replenishing Tunisia’s oil and gas reserves.
He stressed that most Tunisian oil fields have reached maturity, leading to declining output, and called for the drilling of new wells, noting that the country still has significant exploration potential.
He also addressed the issue of shale gas, referring to the existence of substantial reserves that remain unconfirmed due to the lack of horizontal exploratory drilling.
He cited an international study estimating Tunisia’s shale gas reserves at around 620 billion cubic meters, which, if confirmed and exploited, could cover about 100 years of national production.
