Stopping Phosphogypsum Disposal in the Gulf of Gabès Could Restore Ecological Balance within a Year
Expert in industrial environment, Samir Gazbar, stated that ceasing the disposal of phosphogypsum in the Gulf of Gabès would allow the ecosystem to recover in just one year, thanks to the strong tidal forces characteristic of the area.
He specified, in a statement to the TAP on Wednesday, that it would be necessary to clean up the contaminated area, which spans approximately three kilometers off the coast of Chatt Essalem and Ghannouch beaches. This operation, according to him, would require two to three years of dredging, considering that the total volume of phosphogypsum dumped since the creation of the Tunisian Chemical Group (GCT) is estimated to be around 200 million tons.
Regarding the option of a temporary halt to disposal and storage of phosphogypsum in basins, Gazbar estimated that this solution is "technically unfeasible," given that around 15,000 tons of this material are discharged into the sea every day.
As for the valorization of phosphogypsum, it would only concern a limited quantity and would not provide a lasting solution to the environmental problem, he added.
"The only serious and sustainable solution is to dismantle the polluting industrial units of the GCT, which have caused significant damage to industrial investment and other development sectors in the region, due to environmental pollution and the growing rejection of the local population," he stated.
The expert also lamented the outdated nature of the Tunisian Chemical Group's facilities, emphasizing that they do not meet environmental standards and demonstrate the company's inability to comply with required regulations.
