Tunisia Plans 125km Gas Pipeline Across Four Towns

The internationally financed project covers two construction contracts stretching from the outskirts of Tunis to M’saken.

Tunisia has extended the deadline for companies seeking to build a major new gas pipeline corridor, keeping the competition open until 30 September 2026 for work that will run across several towns from the outskirts of Tunis to M’saken.

The state-owned Tunisian Company of Electricity & Gas, Steg, had earlier fixed 15 July as the closing date for bids. The project is financed by the Islamic Development Bank and will be awarded through an international tender.

The decision gives contractors more time to prepare proposals for two separate construction contracts, each to be completed within 450 days.

The planned pipelines will pass through Mourouj, Fouchana, Zriba and M’saken, covering a combined distance of about 125 kilometres.

Contractors to handle full construction work

The contracts are not limited to laying pipes. Successful bidders will carry out studies, provide equipment and materials, and undertake the construction work required for the project.

The first package covers the section leading from Mourouj to Zriba.

Within that contract, a 3.8-kilometre, 20-inch pipeline is planned between Mourouj and Fouchana, south of Tunis. Another 43-kilometre section will continue towards Zriba with a diameter of 24 inches.

The second package covers the longest single stretch of the project: a 78-kilometre, 24-inch pipeline between Zriba and M’saken.

Steg will conduct the procurement under Islamic Development Bank guidelines for the design, supply and installation of the pipelines.

The project comes during a period of heightened concern across the Middle East and North Africa over the security of routes used to transport oil and gas.

Regional conflict that began after the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February severely disrupted oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

The disruption exposed the risks faced when hydrocarbon supplies depend heavily on a limited number of transport routes and has increased interest in pipeline projects across the region.

Against that setting, Tunisia is proceeding with its planned pipeline development through a tender process involving international competition.