Layoffs to Hit Tataouine Gas Project in Tunisia
Layoffs are set to take effect on May 10, 2026, at the Tataouine Gas Project (GTP-T) in Tunisia, which involves the international company Jereh Oil & Gas Engineering Corporation, operating in the Tunisian energy sector.
Background
According to a letter dated April 24, 2026, the company informed its employees of the termination of several employment contracts. The measure affects managers, engineers, and workers assigned to the southern Tunisian gas site. The company justifies this decision due to significant financial difficulties, citing payment delays by the project owner, the Tunisian Petroleum Activities Enterprise (ETAP). Jereh claims that ETAP has not made any payments in over nine months, resulting in a cash flow crisis that makes it difficult to continue operations.
The GTP-T Project
The GTP-T project in Tataouine is a strategic energy project aimed at treating and valorizing natural gas in southern Tunisia to strengthen national production and reduce energy dependence. The project was launched as part of a partnership between ETAP and several international companies, including Jereh, which specializes in oil and gas infrastructure.
Potential Social Impact
These layoffs could have a significant social impact in the Tataouine region, where energy projects are a major source of employment and economic activity.
Jereh's Presence in Tunisia
Jereh Oil & Gas Engineering Corporation has been present in Tunisia since 2019, when it signed a major contract with ETAP worth approximately $70 million (around 199 million dinars). The contract involved the construction of the Tataouine gas processing plant as part of the GTP-T project. The project's objective is to transform and valorize natural gas extracted in southern Tunisia to supply the national grid and produce domestic LPG, thereby reducing the country's energy dependence.
About Jereh
Jereh is a Chinese company specializing in oil and gas infrastructure. It operates in several segments of the energy sector, including engineering, construction, maintenance, and project management. The group claims to be active in over 30 countries, primarily in North Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, with projects covering the entire life cycle of energy infrastructure. Its presence in Tunisia is part of a regional expansion strategy, in a country considered a key energy hub in North Africa.
