TUNIS, July 28 (V7N)— Unannounced load shedding and severe power outages implemented by state electricity company STEG have caused widespread economic devastation across Tunisia, wiping out livestock, spoiling dairy supplies, and disrupting small businesses amid a brutal summer heatwave.
In El-Fahs, roughly 60 kilometers south of the capital Tunis, a single poultry farm suffered catastrophic losses after power cuts shut off electric ventilation systems and water pumps. Despite backup generators, the prolonged outage caused equipment to overheat and fail, resulting in the death of nearly 90 percent of the flock—amounting to 400 to 500 tonnes of lost meat valued at 1.4 to 1.5 million dinars ($500,000).
The agricultural toll extends beyond poultry, with local dairy farmers forced to dump thousands of liters of spoiled milk due to unannounced interruptions in refrigeration systems.
Commercial sectors are similarly reeling. Pastry manufacturers and food processing workshops have reported severe financial damage, including destroyed perishable stock, burned-out cold-room motors, and forced business closures during peak summer event seasons. Meanwhile, the fishing industry faces skyrocketing ice costs, causing retail prices for staples like mackerel to double.
National power company STEG defended its load shedding measures as vital to prevent a complete collapse of the national electricity grid as extreme summer heat drives air conditioning usage to historic highs. However, business coalitions and local chambers of commerce have condemned the utility for failing to provide predictable schedules, leaving enterprises unable to deploy emergency measures or protect equipment.
Public anger over recurring power and water outages prompted a dedicated parliamentary session on Monday. Lawmakers voiced sharp criticism after government officials failed to appear to address the crisis and answer for the compounding agricultural and industrial losses.
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