Tataouine governorate covers almost 4 million hectares, about a quarter of the country’s surface area. It shares borders with Algeria and Libya and boasts rich natural resources.
Although the desert covers roughly two-thirds of the region’s surface area, the expanse of sand is teeming with oil deposits, making the governorate of Tataouine one of the most energy-producing regions in the country.
A major project in the desert has also just kicked off to build a mega solar panel park at Borj Bourguiba and Beni Mhira.
Tataouine abounds in deposits of building materials, notably gypsum, the world’s second-largest exploitable stock over a period of no less than 400 years, experts said.
Although the region’s tourism product is diversified (rallies, tourist camps, adventure tourism, etc.), the accommodation capacity of local tourist units remains very low, at less than 500 beds, which is a real obstacle to the organisation of major events.
The agricultural sector is considered as one of the most important econo
mic activities in Tataouine, in particular animal breeding, in a region which is home to 1.5 million ha of natural pastures.
Despite the drought and scarcity of rain for several seasons, olive tree planting continues all over the region, on the reefs, plains and desert, bringing the total number of olive trees to almost two million.
Irrigated areas cover more than 7 thousand ha, most of which have been neglected due to the lack of irrigation water and, above all, skilled labour.
The health sector is also beset by various difficulties. The governorate of Tataouine has just one regional hospital with a restricted number of specialist doctors, while several other urgent specialities are not provided for (intensive care, cardiology, radiology and gynaecology).
The governorate’s infrastructure has been given particular attention in recent years, with the construction of a motorway between the town of Tataouine and the Tunis-Ras Jdir motorway, as well as the expansion of the road network, making the region more
attractive to investors.
The high rate of unemployment among young people, particularly higher education graduates, has driven this category to leave the region. Since the beginning of 2023, almost 12,000 young people have embarked on irregular immigration to Europe, a situation which has affected families and the region’s development, according to sociologists.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse