On Thursday, a Tunisian court ruled against halting operations at a fertiliser factory in Gabes, stating there was 'no sufficient proof of harm' despite years of protests from the local community. The decision came in light of demands made by the Gabes bar association, which argued that the factory's emissions were detrimental to public health. However, the court concluded that the evidence presented did not meet the necessary technical and scientific standards to warrant a suspension of the plant's operations. The bar association plans to appeal the ruling, with no final date established for a hearing on the matter.

The phosphate-processing plant has faced ongoing criticism, particularly highlighted by an audit from the African Development Bank last July, which identified significant non-compliance issues regarding air and marine pollution. Emissions from the factory, which include sulphur gases, nitrogen, and fluorine, have raised alarms among residents, who have attributed a surge in health problems to the factory’s operations. Community protests intensified in October, with demonstrators calling for accountability and action to address the alleged pollution issues.

Despite prior promises from the government in 2017 to gradually shut down the plant, authorities seem to be increasing production, reflecting the complicated balance between environmental concerns and economic pressures. Recent sentences handed down to activists who protested against pollution highlight the contentious atmosphere surrounding the factory. The combination of rising health concerns and local economic dependencies on the plant’s operations continues to pose challenges for both the community and the government as they navigate the implications of the court’s decision and the ongoing environmental concerns.