(TAP) - The Tunisian government plans to increase mining sector revenues by 10 percent in 2019, thanks to the production of 5 million tonnes of crude phosphate, i.e. an increase of 30% compared to 2018, according to the 2019 economic budget document.

It also plans to invest 180 million dinars (MD) in the mining sector (including 140 million allocated to the phosphate sector) and to produce about 300 thousand tonnes of iron in addition to carrying out studies of the project Tozeur-Nafta and projects of Meknassi (governorate of Sidi Bouzid) and Om Lakhchab to increase production.

The government will work, according to the same document, to restore the normal pace of production and to conduct the strategic study of the phosphate sector and its derivatives in order to ensure the sustainability and development of the sector by 2030.

Among the priorities of the State in this area is ensuring the resumption of the usual pace of phosphate rail transport thanks to the development of the Tunisian National Railways Company (SNCFT), which currently consists of 5 trains.

This is besides the revision of the Mines Code, some provisions of which do not comply with Article 13 of the Constitution.

The phosphate industry in Tunisia, which was among the top five in the world in 2010, is facing a global recession, due to rising production, particularly in Morocco, Brazil and Saudi Arabia, as well as the decline in demand for phosphate fertilisers, particularly from India.

According to forecasts for 2018, Tunisia is expected to produce about 4 million tonnes of phosphate against 3.9 million tons in 2017 as well as 270 thousand tonnes of iron and 1.4 million tonnes of sodium chloride, 30 thousand tonnes of sodium sulphate and a million tonnes of gypsum.

Investments in the order of 170 MD are also planned.

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