Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy Announces Development Plan for El-Borma Oil Field
The Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy has announced that the Italo-Tunisian Petroleum Exploration Company (SITEP) is currently implementing a comprehensive development and exploration program for the El-Borma field, located on the Tunisian-Algerian border. This plan, which extends until 2030, is part of the national strategy to reduce the energy deficit and strengthen the country's hydrocarbon production.
Key Points of the Development Plan
- The program includes the drilling of ten new oil and gas wells, with two drillings scheduled for 2025 and 2026.
- The SITEP, a Tunisian-Italian public-private company, is not subject to the classical public procurement regime and applies validated tender procedures, in coordination with representatives from the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Finance.
Addressing Production Decline at El-Borma
The ministry attributed the decline in production at El-Borma to:
- The natural decline in field yield, estimated at 8% per year.
- Other factors, including delays in acquiring essential equipment, maintenance difficulties related to the company's financial situation, and the withdrawal of some suppliers due to payment arrears.
Production Increase Despite Challenges
Despite these constraints, El-Borma's production recorded a 15% increase by the end of March 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. The ministry attributes this progress to the efforts made by SITEP to relaunch and stabilize the exploitation of the field, in a global energy context marked by strong fluctuations.
