Petrofac is currently threatening to withdraw and terminate its investment in Tunisia if protests over jobs are not called off immediately, a government officials said.

The sit-ins by people looking for jobs began since the beginning of this year and have upset gas production in the country.

“Petrofac officials told us they will be forced to declare force majeure and resort to international courts for their losses if the production will not return immediately,” Hela Cheikrouhou, Energy Minister told Reuters.

Petrofac delivers about 13% of Tunisia's natural gas needs and threats by the company to leave the country are another serious issue for the government.

Officials have said that importing gas from Algeria to fill the gap caused by Petrofac's production interruptions has made the government expend about $100 million in the nine months of this year.

State-run phosphate firms at the start of this month announced a deal to employ 2,800 new workers after protests over jobs stopped production and threatened to halt exports.

Petrofac has been operating in Tunisia since 2007. So far, the company has executed a range of conceptual/FEED work and completed a major EPC project; the Hasdrubal gas plant. Petrofac also has ongoing operations at the Chergui gas field concession on the Kerkennah Island.

Anita Fatunji