Last June, Shell officially contacted the Tunisian authorities to notify them of its decision to leave Tunisia after abandoning its Miskar and Hasdrubal assets.
In Tunisia, the Anglo-Dutch oil company Shell has formalized its choice not to pursue the exploitation of the Miskar field, a gas perimeter housed in shallow waters, in the Gulf of Gabès located in the east of the country.
Shell’s decision involves the retrocession to Tunisia of the 100% interest it held in the operation of the site. It comes following the expiry of the operating license for the perimeter, in June 2022. Shell then initiated proceedings with the Tunisian authorities with a view to suspending its contractual commitments.
Shell’s abandonment of the exploitation of the Miskar field is in line with its announced policy to reduce its carbon footprint. It is also, among other things, a way for the company to offload a gas asset deemed unprofitable.
For several analysts, the news does not suit Tunisia. Indeed, the Tunisian Petroleum Activities Company (ETAP), which is now taking over the asset, does not have the means to develop it.
A situation linked to the operational and financial difficulties experienced by the state-owned company could affect Tunisia’s ability to meet national gas demand. Remember that the Miskar field provides 25% of national natural gas production.
Shell is not the first multinational company to limit its investments in Tunisia. Several companies such as the Italian ENI or the British Petrofac have already left the country deemed unattractive for business. This decline in interest calls for strategic choices allowing Tunisia to play a more significant role in the regional energy scene.
