2025: A Year of Struggle for Les Ciments de Bizerte
The year 2025 has been a real challenge for Les Ciments de Bizerte. The fourth-quarter figures hide a harsh reality: that of a plant operating at a slow pace. The company is fighting on all fronts, trying to retain its customers while protecting its employees.
The Furnace Blockage
The major problem is that clinker production has been at a standstill for over a year. The furnace is extinguished. Why? Because the company lacks petroleum coke. Without the funds to import this fuel, activity is blocked. It's a vicious cycle. The coffers are empty, and debts are piling up. Today, the company is struggling to pay its suppliers and bankers.
A Stopgap Solution: Grinding
To avoid disappearing, the company had to adapt. The plant now buys already-produced clinker to grind it on site. This is a defense strategy. And it's working, to some extent. In the last quarter of 2025, cement production jumped by 28.44%. Lime production also increased by over 68%. Demand is solid.
Rising Revenues, but Fragile Finances
On the sales side, the news is encouraging. Local sales increased by 54% by the end of the year. For the entire year of 2025, revenues exceeded 40 million dinars. The company is also using its quay to unload fuel for other clients, generating some financial oxygen. However, despite these efforts, the situation remains critical. The prolonged shutdown of the furnace weighs too heavily on the company's finances.
What's in Store for 2026?
For the beginning of the year, caution is advised. The objectives are clear:
- Reduce costs to a minimum
- Continue grinding clinker until things improve
- Sell more on the Tunisian market
- Maintain social peace within the plant
The key is to hold on. Les Ciments de Bizerte is seeking to survive and prepare for a real restart. The financial pressure remains immense, but the plant refuses to shut down.
