Tunisian Environment Ministry Announces Major PCB Removal Project
Tunis, 2 September 2025 – Youssef Zaidi, Director of Industrial Environment at the Ministry of the Environment, warned on Tuesday that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) – a hazardous substance primarily found in legacy electrical transformers – are “extremely dangerous.” PCBs accumulate in the human body and can travel long distances through water, air, or soil. Their concentration is measured in parts per million (ppm).
International Framework
Speaking on the TV program “Youm Saïd,” Zaidi explained that the international community has adopted the Stockholm Convention to encourage countries to safely eliminate persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and prevent their reuse. Tunisia has joined this effort and is now seeking foreign financing to help local industries dispose of PCBs by exporting them to developed nations for proper treatment.
Scope of the Tunisian Initiative
- Target: 400 tonnes of PCBs slated for collection and treatment.
- Partners:
- A Dutch firm selected by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will conduct on‑site inspections at each factory to quantify PCB stocks and recommend the most effective intervention methods.
- A Spanish company will handle the subsequent treatment and final disposal.
Zaidi emphasized that the entire collection, transport, and export process must be completed within six months, i.e., by the end of March 2026.
Companies and Entities Involved
The project will engage a broad spectrum of Tunisian industrial actors, including:
- Tunisian Chemical Group
- Gafsa Phosphate Company
- Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company (STEG)
- El Fouladh Plant
- Various cement factories
- National Alfa Paste and Paper Company in Kasserine
- Numerous private industrial firms
- Government ministries such as Agriculture and Higher Education & Scientific Research
Call to Action for Industry
Zaidi urged industrial operators to actively participate in the program, facilitate PCB collection, and cooperate with foreign experts to accelerate the removal process.
Additional Sources of PCBs
He also reminded listeners that PCBs can be present in small quantities within certain flame‑retardant insulating materials and fire‑resistant plastics.
Keywords: polychlorinated biphenyls, PCB, Tunisia, Stockholm Convention, persistent organic pollutants, UNEP, environmental cleanup, industrial waste management, foreign financing, PCB treatment, environmental health.
