Tunisia to boost energy sector investments in 2004

[DuctapeFatwa]

Tunisia's government plans this year to invest 822 mln dinars (540 mln eur) in the energy sector and step up the search for oil and gas reserves, according to officials.

The investment is an increase of 130 mln dinars (85 mln eur) over 2003's official spending on energy, aimed partly at bringing down a large deficit in the sector, according to an official statement.

Fourteen new drilling operations are scheduled in 2004. The joint Tunisian-Algerian Petroleum Co, formed last year, will start exploring potential reserves off Madhia on the north African country's eastern coast, and in eastern Algeria.

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