Tunisian court rejects bid to halt polluting fertiliser plant
## Judicial Decision on Fertiliser Factory Operations
Judicial Decision on Fertiliser Factory Operations
A Tunisian court ruled on Thursday that operations at a fertiliser factory in Gabes will continue, citing insufficient evidence of harm despite ongoing protests alleging health issues caused by the plant.
Mounir Adouni, head of the Gabes bar association, stated that the court found the pollution allegations lack technical and scientific proof.
The bar association plans to appeal, although a date for the final ruling has not been set.
An audit by the African Development Bank in July reported significant non-compliance regarding air and marine pollution at the phosphate-processing facility, which emits sulphur gases, nitrogen, and fluorine.
A Tunisian court ruled on Thursday that operations at a fertiliser factory in Gabes will continue, citing insufficient evidence of harm despite ongoing protests alleging health issues caused by the plant.
Thousands protested in October, attributing local health problems to the plant's activities. In a related development, 12 activists from the Stop Pollution movement were sentenced to one year in prison for a protest held in 2020.
Despite a commitment in 2017 to gradually close the plant, authorities are increasing production to take advantage of rising global fertiliser prices, with a goal to quadruple production by 2030.
Last month, the African Development Bank approved $110 million for the environmental upgrading of the facility, which President Kais Saied describes as a "pillar of the national economy."
Based on reporting by Africanews.
