Tunisia’s energy deficit reached 52 percent in 2018 compared with 49 percent in 2017, said the Tunisian industry minister on Monday.

“The deficit could reach 73 percent by 2030 if resources remain stable and demand for energy increases.” Tunis Afrique Presse quoted Slim Feriani as saying during a workshop held in Tunis on the energy sector reform.

The minister emphasized the need to find solutions to address the state of emergency related to energy.

Tunisia had mobilized funds worth 957.7 million U.S. dollars to support the energy sector, more than 7 percent of the state budget.

Feriani explained that the workshop was an opportunity to develop a global vision of the energy sector and its institutions and to propose recommendations to improve their functioning.