Béja Sugar Refinery Set to Resume Operations Next Week
Date: Thursday, 19 February 2026
Source: Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) – statements from the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy
Key Highlights
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Resumption date | Expected to restart next Monday (the week of 27 February 2026). |
| Investment program | ≈ 16 million TND already spent on modernising equipment and completing maintenance. |
| Future expansion | Additional ≈ 56 million TND planned to enlarge the plant and boost capacity to up to 1 000 t/day. |
| Historical significance | The refinery, founded in 1962, is a cornerstone of Tunisia’s sugar sector and the Béja region’s economy. |
| Environmental & restructuring plan | A comprehensive restructuring will embed environmental standards and ensure long‑term sustainability. |
| Related ministerial visit | Inspection of the ammonitrate depot in Goubellat to verify stock levels, logistics, and distribution transparency ahead of Ramadan. |
Full Translation
The Béja sugar refinery is slated to resume its activities as early as next week after several months of shutdown and a ≈ 16 million TND investment program aimed at modernising equipment and restarting production.
The announcement was made on Thursday, 19 February 2026 by Fatma Thabet Chiboub, Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, during an on‑site visit to the Béja governorate. The statements were reported by the Agence Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP).
“All necessary financing has been mobilised, and the maintenance works together with the installation of new equipment have been completed,” the minister said. “We can now envisage an imminent restart of operations after months of suspension. A restructuring programme will also be launched to guarantee the plant’s sustainability while meeting environmental requirements.”
The refinery’s restart is a major economic stake for both the region and Tunisia’s sugar industry. The minister stressed the need for full mobilisation of all stakeholders to ensure the success of the revival programme, recalling the plant’s historical role since its founding in 1962 and its contribution to the national economy.
According to the refinery’s Production Director, the plant is technically ready to restart next Monday. All necessary tests on the new equipment have been carried out, and the investments have funded:
- Maintenance works
- Acquisition of new machinery
- Reconstitution of working capital
Beyond the immediate restart, a broader restructuring plan is also in the pipeline. It includes additional investments of about 56 million TND to expand the facility and raise its production capacity to up to 1 000 tonnes per day.
During the same ministerial visit, officials also inspected the ammonitrate supply chain in the governorate. An inspection of the chemical product depot in Goubellat was carried out to verify:
- Stock conditions
- Logistics of distribution
- Transparency of the allocation system
Authorities also reviewed the adjustment of distribution schedules in anticipation of Ramadan, aiming to ensure that farmers in this agriculturally‑focused governorate receive supplies under optimal conditions. Béja is considered a key link in Tunisia’s national food‑security chain.
The Béja sugar refinery had halted operations in June 2024 due to quality issues with its sugar and the need for extensive maintenance and renovation of several installations. Its planned restart is now presented as a crucial step in reviving industrial activity in the region.
SEO‑Optimised Summary
- Béja sugar refinery to restart next week after a 16 million TND modernization.
- Minister Fatma Thabet Chiboub announces full financing, completed maintenance, and a new environmental restructuring plan.
- Production capacity could rise to 1 000 t/day with an additional 56 million TND investment.
- Ammonitrate depot in Goubellat inspected ahead of Ramadan to secure agricultural supply chains.
- The revival marks a significant boost for the Tunisia sugar sector and the Béja regional economy.
