After several years of inactivity, the Sidi Bou Ali dairy plant, closed since 2018, is preparing to resume service. The announcement was made Wednesday, May 28, by the administrator of the company, Sadok ARIF, who confirmed that the company “Elbene Industrie” is now placed under the supervision of the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), State financial arm.
The CDC officially filed an acquisition offer from the Sousse first instance court, accompanied by a structured recovery plan aimed at reviving the industrial site permanently. This initiative is part of a coordinated state approach, involving seven ministries and benefiting from direct support from the Presidency of the Republic and the government’s head.
The revival of this strategic unit, formerly a flagship of national dairy production, is part of a logic of food sovereignty. The factory, which had been privatized in 2005 after belonging to the state since 1978, had ceased its activities due to major financial difficulties and suspicion of corruption.
At its peak, the power station treated up to 500,000 liters of milk per day, contributing significantly to the supply of the national market. Its closure had led to the dismissal of around 200 employees, while 154 others remained without income while remaining administratively attached to the company.
The effective restart of the factory remains, however, remains suspended from the judicial approval of the offer submitted by the CDC, but the signals are now clear to the progressive recovery of the activity.
