More than 300,000 tons of high quality agricultural and metal phosphate extracted from a mine in Kalaat Khasba (Kef governorate) are still being stored, and have been for a very long time, on a 30-hectare site at the entrance to the town.
In this context, a meeting was held last week at the governorate headquarters to examine ways of speeding up the activation and application of the agreement signed on April 15, 2016, which has remained a dead letter despite the promises made by the Gafsa phosphate Company (CPG) and the Tunisian National Railways Company (SNCFT).
The first phase of the agreement involves the collection of 110,000 tons of phosphate by the CPG and the allocation of five million dinars to the inhabitants of Kalaat Khasba through the implementation of small projects in various sectors, according to the same source.
The second phase will involve the collection of 330,000 tons of metal phosphates by a private company in the region, the processing of these quantities and the allocation of the profits to support private investment in the city.
The third stage involves the rehabilitation of the land on which the phosphate is extracted to facilitate the establishment of agricultural and other projects.
Governor of Kef, Walid Kaâbia, has recommended that all the necessary conditions be met for the phosphate transport operation to start in order to encourage investment in the city.
The implementation of the phosphate transport plan will be the subject of upcoming meetings,” the same source said.
The Kalaat Khasba mine in the south of Kef governorate has been closed for unknown reasons since October 1992, after 90 years of operation.
