(TAP) - The oil and gas extraction sector edged down by 10.1% in 2016 compared to 2015, according to the Trend in monetary and economic situation and medium term outlook published by the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT).

For the year 2016 as a whole, domestic crude oil production fell by 6.2%, after a decline of 9.6% in 2015 and 10.6% in 2014.

The BCT explained, inter alia, by the cessation of production in certain oil fields caused by recurring social problems and by the succession of technical failures at a few production sites.

Similarly, national gas production dropped by 11% over the same period (against -3.9% in 2015 and -8.5% in 2014).

For the mining sector, inspite of ongoing protests at production sites, the added value increased in 2016 compared to 2015. The phosphate production level reached 3.8 million tonnes in 2016, a rise of 17.4% compared to 2015.

Compared to the previous year, rail transport and the exports of crude phosphate and its by-products increased by 1.2% and 50.3%, respectively, in 2016.