Tunisia has recorded a drop in crude oil and natural gas production of 10.1% in 2016, compared to 2015, Oil Price reported.

According to African Manager, domestic crude oil production fell by 6.2%, after a decline of 9.6% in 2015 and 10.6% in 2014. At its highest point, in 1997, the country was producing 93,000b/d. Its record low was 42,000b/d, reached first in December 2015.

Similarly, national gas production decreased by 11% over the same period, down 3.9% in 2015 and 8.5% in 2014.

According to the note on ‘Economic and Monetary Developments in Tunisia and the Medium-Term Outlook,’ published by the Central Bank of Tunisia, the drop was caused by — among other things — persistent social unrest and a series of technical failures in some production locations.

Six years after the revolution, the areas where the fields are located remain underdeveloped, with high unemployment. The problems have been exacerbated by a security crackdown, particularly near the borders with Libya and Algeria.