Ports and Energy Transition in Atlantic Africa[Ports et transition énergétique en Afrique atlantique]

An important interface between southern Tunisia and the Mediterranean, the port area of Sfax consists of a historic fishing port an artificial commercial port. The creation of the commercial port dates back to the government of the French protectorate, at the end of the 19th century, and allowed the city of Sfax, the second largest Tunisian urban agglomeration, to strengthen its regional economic role. With a traffic volume of 4 648 740 tonnes mainly inbound in 2022, it is the 3rd Tunisian port in tonnage. It does not stand out in the rankings as a major port in Africa, unlike Tanger Med in Morocco, whose growth has been spectacular over the last 15 years. The Sfax commercial port is versatile, as it deals with liquid and solid bulk and containerized goods. For passenger traffic, Sfax is the pier for ferries to the Kerkennah Islands. The authorities are faced with increasing illegal migration to Europe, generating disorder and tragedy. For a long time, the economic imperatives of international trade and fishing overshadowed the adjacent pollution and the poor carbon footprint of this area, which adjoins the city center. The port area is threatened by risks, in particular poor waste management, pollution, toxic emissions, rising water levels, storms, lack of drinking water, and global warming with its excessive heat. In a gloomy scenario, this metropolis of nearly 300,000 inhabitants could be deserted by 2100, human life becoming too difficult there. Experts are calling for decontamination of the port, decarbonization of its activities, and better adaptation to this warming while limiting the artificialization of the coastline. But these major, highly studied sustainable modernization projects are struggling to materialize due to political instability, economic difficulties since the 2011 revolution, and lack of funding. They must accelerate today by following objectives consistent with the best international standards to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050.