Mining industry of Tunisia

Mine ownership is limited to the Government of Tunisia, although operation by private entities is encouraged.

Mining has been practiced in the country since the times of the Berber, Roman, Arab, and French empires.

Plaster and lime are extracted on a large scale in the central and southern provinces, and soda is furnished, especially by the district of Cairwan.

"[2]During the colonial period, when Tunisia was a protectorate of France, mining was a major part of the economy, particularly in rural areas.

Gendarmes were formed by the colonial police force and were used to suppress labor unrest, particularly during the Great Depression.

[5] Following the 2010 Tunisian Revolution in which President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was deposed, mining in Tunisia declined.

[7] Extraction of phosphate is the most important mining sector in the country, boosting the economy through exports by some 45%.