Tunisia's Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy has announced that it has no plans to list the country's oil transport company, Trapsa, on the stock exchange. The ministry stated that listing Trapsa is not a current option due to the company's strategic importance and the need to maintain public service continuity and supply security. This response was given to a written question from MP Fatma Mesdi regarding Trapsa's activities and governance.
Trapsa is a public company governed by the 1958 Tunisian-French agreement and 1985 law, classified as a type "A" public establishment. Its main activities include transporting, storing, and loading crude oil, as well as providing petroleum and maritime services. The company's operations are based on several agreements and contracts related to transporting, storing, and loading petroleum products, and it is subject to regularly reviewed tariffs.
The ministry highlighted that Trapsa's contracts have been updated in recent years to improve operational efficiency and exploitation conditions. The company operates under the supervision of relevant public control structures. As part of the 2026-2030 development plan, several projects have been programmed to upgrade and modernize Trapsa's petroleum infrastructure, including pipeline and storage equipment maintenance.
The planned projects also involve constructing two new basins with capacities of 35,000 and 5,000 cubic meters, as well as maintaining maritime equipment and enhancing safety and environmental protection systems. The ministry aims to continue modernizing the transport and storage system, strengthening governance and control mechanisms, and improving preventive maintenance.
Additionally, the ministry is working to develop storage capacity and maritime services. The company is subject to audits by specialized public control structures. The development plan is designed to improve Trapsa's performance and efficiency while ensuring the continuity of public services.
The decision to rule out listing Trapsa on the stock exchange reflects the government's cautious approach to managing strategic public assets. The ministry's statement emphasized the importance of preserving the company's public service mission and maintaining supply security.
The Industry Ministry's announcement comes amid ongoing efforts to enhance the governance and performance of public companies in Tunisia. The government is working to strike a balance between optimizing public assets and ensuring the continuity of essential public services.
Key points
- The Tunisian government has ruled out listing Trapsa, the country's oil transport company, on the stock exchange due to its strategic importance.
- Trapsa is set to undergo a series of modernization projects, including upgrades to its petroleum infrastructure and enhancement of safety and environmental protection systems.
- The company will continue to operate under the supervision of relevant public control structures to ensure transparency and accountability.
