Off the rails: Tunisian phosphate was not on
track in February owing to workers blocking
transports between GCT’s mines and plants
at Gafsa, Sfax and Mdhilla-Gafsa
Dave Smith, Phantasrail Galleries 2009
As a result of the political crises sweeping North Africa (see Comment p.7), production of phosphate rock and fertiliser products ceased in Tunisia at the end of January.
Tunisian phosphate rock mines and plants were shut for a period of weeks owing to labour disputes at the mines, and disruption to the railway between the mines and plants.
Producing 8m. tpa phosphate rock, Tunisia is the second most important phosphate producer in Africa after Morocco, and the world’s fifth largest producer accounting for about 5% of world supply.
Phosphate production in Tunisia is controlled and operated by Tunisia’s state-owned Compagnie des Phosphates de Gafsa (CPG), which has eight open-cast and underground operations in the south-western region...