Shale gas debate resurfaces in Tunisia

Mamih Banna, the Tunisian Environment Minister Tunis – Azhar Jarboui Mamih Banna, the Tunisian Environment Minister, told Arabstoday that she would oppose the exploitation of shale gas as an alternative energy resource in Tunisia. “I still hope that experts will approve shale gas extraction. Tunisia needs to develop its energy supplies,” said the Environment Minister.
Shale gas is a natural gas trapped under rock formations. Extracting it requires to pump water at high pressure in the soil to fracture the rock [or “fracking” the rock]. Activists have denounced these techniques, which have already been responsible for drinking water supplies being poisoned in several US states.
Mohamed Amine Alchkari, the Industry Minister rejected the consequences of shale gas extraction. In an interview with Arabstoday, the Tunisian politician said that the benefits of shale gas outnumber the cons.
“We need to overcome our energy supply deficit. We will send a team of experts to America to benefit from their experience in extracting shale gas,” Alchkari told Arabstoday.
Tunisia currently faces a major energy deficit. The energy supplies decrease while the demand increases. We need to find new ways to fill our fuel reserves, said an Industry Ministry official.
Shale gas would cover Tunisia’s energy supply needs for nearly 80 years, said a source from the Industry Ministry.
“The energy deficit has doubled in two years. We expect it to reach 12 percent by the end of 2012, the equivalent of $600,000
In remarks to ArabsToday, sources of the Tunisian Ministry of Industry said that shale gas is able to cover the needs of the country's energy for nearly 80 years, stressing that the deficit of the energy balance jumped to double over two years, where it is expected to reach 12% by 2012 which is equivalent to $ 600 million.
France and Canada have prohibited the extraction of shale gas, for environmental and health reasons.