TUNIS, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Tunisia's state-run Gafsa Phosphate company has suspended all production because of protests demanding jobs at its three main sites that will impact its exports, an official at the operation said on Tuesday.
Tunisia produced about 8.26 million tonnes of phosphate in 2010. But output dropped after its 2011 revolution. It produced 4 million tonnes last year and output for the first six months of 2016 was at 1.86 million tonnes, according to the energy ministry.
The renewed Gafsa protests will be one of the first tests for the new government of Prime Minister Youssef Chahed who last week said he would take a strong position against sit-ins that damaged the country's economy.
(Reporting by Tarek Amara; writing by Patrick Markey) ((pat.markey@thomsonreuters.com; +213-661-692993; Reuters Messaging: pat.markey.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Tunisia produced about 8.26 million tonnes of phosphate in 2010. But output dropped after its 2011 revolution. It produced 4 million tonnes last year and output for the first six months of 2016 was at 1.86 million tonnes, according to the energy ministry.
The renewed Gafsa protests will be one of the first tests for the new government of Prime Minister Youssef Chahed who last week said he would take a strong position against sit-ins that damaged the country's economy.
(Reporting by Tarek Amara; writing by Patrick Markey) ((pat.markey@thomsonreuters.com; +213-661-692993; Reuters Messaging: pat.markey.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
