The Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy officially revoked the “BIRSA” hydrocarbon concession, ending more than four decades of joint exploitation between the Tunisian oil activity company (ETAP) and the company “Top Energy Investment Company”.
The decision was published in the Official Journal No. 59 of the year 2025, acting the termination of the permit initially granted by a ministerial decree dated September 30, 1980.
A decision based on technical breaches and opinions.
This revocation comes after several formal notice addressed to holders of the concession, in April and November 2022, and relies on the opinions rendered by the Hydrocarbons Advisory Commission, during its meetings of October 7, December 15, 2022 and March 26, 2024.
A final official signal was sent by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, via correspondence dated May 8, 2024, notifying the parties concerned the final end of their rights and committing them to engage the procedures for closing and restoring the site.
In accordance with Tunisian regulations and international conventions ratified by the country, the companies concerned will now have to rehabilitate the perimeter of the concession, in compliance with environmental standards and legal requirements.
The “Birsa” concession had been the subject of several hand changes over the years. In March 2017, a decree notably authorized the total transfer of “Atlantis Tunisia Ltd” participations to “Top Energy Investment Company”.
The end of this concession marks a turning point in the management of national energy resources, in a context where the Tunisian state seeks to strengthen transparency, compliance with contractual obligations and sovereignty on natural resources.
