Compagnie des phosphates de Gafsa
A Tunisian state-owned phosphate mining company operating in the Gafsa phosphate basin.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Compagnie des phosphates de Gafsa, commonly known as CPG, is Tunisia’s principal phosphate mining company and one of the country’s most economically and politically significant industrial enterprises. Based in Gafsa in western Tunisia, the company extracts, washes, filters and dries phosphate rock from deposits in the Gafsa basin, including mining areas around Métlaoui, Redeyef, Moularès and M’dhilla. Its output supplies Tunisia’s downstream phosphate-processing industry and has historically been exported to international fertilizer markets. The company’s origins lie in the discovery of commercially valuable calcium-phosphate deposits near Jebel Thelja in the Métlaoui region in April 1885 by the French geologist Philippe Thomas. After further surveys identified extensive deposits, the Tunisian authorities linked mining concessions to the construction of transport infrastructure. Once the port of Sfax was modernized and the port requirement was relaxed, the Compagnie des Phosphates de Gafsa et des Chemins de Fer de Gafsa was established in 1897. A railway linking the mining basin with Sfax was built at the same time, allowing ore to reach export facilities. Mining began at Métlaoui in 1899, followed by operations at Redeyef in 1903 and Moularès in 1904. Production grew rapidly, reaching approximately 200,000 tonnes of commercial phosphate in 1900 and about two million tonnes annually in the early 1930s. During the French protectorate, the company became a major employer and taxpayer. Its economic importance continued after independence, although the various mining subsidiaries were progressively nationalized. The M’dhilla phosphate company became fully Tunisian-owned in 1962, merged with the original Gafsa company in 1969, and the resulting structure combined with STEPHOS in 1976 under the CPG name. CPG later shifted toward mechanized open-pit mining. The first open-pit mine began operating at Kef Schfaier in 1978, while a research center was established in the same year. With support from the World Bank during the 1990s, the company modernized equipment and concentrated increasingly on open-pit extraction. The last underground mine, at Redeyef, closed in 2006. CPG is closely integrated with Tunisia’s chemical and fertilizer sector. In 1994 it was combined administratively with Groupe Chimique Tunisien, or GCT, which processes phosphate into phosphoric acid, diammonium phosphate, triple superphosphate and other fertilizer products. The two organizations share a management structure and together form the CPG-GCT group. A related joint venture, Tunisian Indian Fertilizers, was established with Indian partners to manufacture phosphate fertilizers, particularly for export. Before Tunisia’s 2011 revolution, CPG ranked among the world’s largest phosphate producers. In 2010 it reportedly produced around eight million tonnes of phosphate and represented a significant share of Tunisian exports and national economic output. Since 2011, however, strikes, sit-ins, recruitment demands and wider social unrest in the Gafsa region have repeatedly disrupted extraction and transport. Production fell sharply, while the company faced stronger competition from Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Peru and weaker demand in some Asian markets. Government decisions to absorb outsourced workers into CPG helped address regional employment pressures but greatly expanded the workforce and increased the company’s financial and operational burden. CPG remains a central employer in Gafsa and a strategic state enterprise. Its social role, limited public disclosure and dependence on a politically sensitive mining region have made governance, employment and environmental issues inseparable from its commercial performance. The company continues to operate mining, quarrying and phosphate-washing facilities in the Gafsa basin, while downstream processing is handled principally through the wider CPG-GCT structure.
History
The history of CPG is rooted in the industrial development of Tunisia’s Gafsa phosphate basin. In April 1885, Philippe Thomas identified rich calcium-phosphate layers on the northern slope of Jebel Thelja near Métlaoui. Subsequent geological work showed that the region contained extensive deposits, encouraging French colonial authorities and private investors to consider large-scale extraction. The original concession framework required both a port and railway, but the government later relaxed the port condition after improvements at Sfax. This made it possible to establish a mining and rail enterprise focused on moving phosphate from the interior to the coast. The Compagnie des Phosphates de Gafsa et des Chemins de Fer de Gafsa was formed in 1897. Its investors included Saint-Gobain, the Mukhtar Hadid Mining Company, the Duparchy Company, French industrialists and smaller shareholders. The first underground mine opened at Métlaoui in 1899. Production reached about 200,000 tonnes in 1900, and additional mines opened at Redeyef in 1903 and Moularès in 1904. A separate Tunisian phosphate enterprise, STEPHOS, was created in 1905, while the M’dhilla mine was opened in 1920 by the Compagnie des Phosphates Tunisien de M’dhilla. The industry expanded rapidly during the early twentieth century. Tunisian phosphate output reached roughly two million tonnes a year in the early 1930s, although falling world prices limited the economic returns anticipated by colonial officials. Even so, the Gafsa company became one of the largest employers and taxpayers in the protectorate. Downstream processing began to develop as well; SIAPE, a producer of phosphoric acid and fertilizers, started operating in 1948. Following Tunisian independence in 1956, the mining subsidiaries were progressively nationalized. The M’dhilla company became wholly Tunisian-owned in 1962 and merged with the Gafsa company in 1969. In 1976, STEPHOS and the Gafsa company were consolidated under the CPG name, creating a wholly state-owned mining enterprise. Open-pit extraction began at Kef Schfaier in 1978, and CPG established a research center during the same year. During the 1990s, World Bank-backed modernization supported mechanization and a strategic shift away from underground mining. Redeyef, the final underground mine, closed in 2006. CPG’s role expanded through its relationship with Groupe Chimique Tunisien. In 1994, CPG was merged administratively with GCT, a public company responsible for processing phosphate into phosphoric acid and fertilizers. The group incorporated several phosphate-processing businesses located in Sfax, Gabès and Gafsa, and by 1996 the two organizations operated with a shared management structure. In 2006, CPG-GCT agreed to establish Tunisian Indian Fertilizers with Coromandel International and Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals. The venture entered into force in 2011 and was intended to manufacture phosphate fertilizers mainly for export. By 2010, CPG was described as the world’s fifth-largest phosphate producer. It reportedly produced approximately eight million tonnes of phosphate and contributed materially to Tunisian exports and GDP. The company’s economic position changed dramatically after the 2011 revolution. Strikes, sit-ins and demands for jobs and regional development repeatedly interrupted mining and rail transport. Output declined, while Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Peru expanded their competitive positions and demand weakened in some Asian markets. Government efforts to absorb outsourced workers into CPG increased employment but also intensified cost and management pressures. CPG remains active and strategically important. Its facilities include open-pit mines, an underground legacy operation, quarries and phosphate-washing units across five principal mining sectors: Métlaoui Kef Schfaier, Métlaoui Kef Eddour, Redeyef, Moularès and M’dhilla. The company also holds licenses in Chott El Jerid and Meknassy. Its continuing importance reflects both Tunisia’s phosphate resources and the company’s unusual dual role as a commercial producer and the dominant employer in the Gafsa region.
- 2011
Tunisian Indian Fertilizers partnership enters into force
[1]A joint venture involving CPG-GCT and Indian fertilizer companies began operating with an export-oriented fertilizer mandate.
- 2010
CPG reaches reported pre-revolution production peak
[1]The company was described as the fifth-largest phosphate producer globally, with reported output of approximately eight million tonnes.
- 2006
Final underground mine closes
[1]The Redeyef underground mine closed as the company continued its shift toward mechanized open-pit operations.
- 1994
Integration with Groupe Chimique Tunisien
[1]CPG was merged administratively with GCT, linking phosphate extraction with Tunisia’s downstream phosphoric-acid and fertilizer operations.
- 1978
Open-pit mining and research expansion
[1]The first open-pit mine began operating at Kef Schfaier, and CPG created a research center.
- 1976
CPG structure created
[1]STEPHOS and the Gafsa phosphate company were merged under the CPG name as a wholly Tunisian state-owned enterprise.
- 1920
M’dhilla mining operations begin
[1]The Compagnie des Phosphates Tunisien de M’dhilla opened a mine in the M’dhilla area.
- 1904
Moularès mine opens
[1]A third mining site opened at Moularès.
- 1903
Redeyef mine opens
[1]A second major mine began production at Redeyef.
- 1899
First underground mine opens
[1]The first commercial underground mine began operating in the Métlaoui region.
Products and positioning
A strategic, state-owned upstream phosphate producer supplying Tunisia’s fertilizer and phosphoric-acid industry and serving international markets.
Mining commodity
Phosphate rock
CPG extracts phosphate ore from the Gafsa basin through open-pit mining and quarrying, with historical underground operations. The ore is the upstream feedstock for Tunisia’s phosphoric-acid and fertilizer industries and has also been prepared for export to international markets.
Processed mineral
Washed phosphate
At its washing facilities, CPG treats mined ore to improve its commercial quality before further handling or processing. Washing is integrated into the company’s mining sectors around Métlaoui, Redeyef, Moularès and M’dhilla.
Prepared phosphate
Filtered and dried phosphate
CPG produces filtered and dried phosphate for sale and for use by downstream chemical and fertilizer operations. These preparation stages make the mined material suitable for transfer to processing plants or external customers.
Brand decisions
2014
Absorption of outsourced workersStrategyBackground
Following the revolution, employment demands and regional sit-ins repeatedly interrupted production and transport.
Action taken
The government cancelled some outsourcing arrangements and brought supplier employees into CPG in an effort to reduce social tensions.
Aftermath
The reported workforce expanded from about 8,000 employees to approximately 30,000 between 2010 and 2014, increasing the company’s social role and operating burden.
2011
Tunisian Indian Fertilizers joint venture beginsM&ABackground
CPG-GCT sought to expand Tunisia’s downstream phosphate-processing and fertilizer capacity, particularly for export markets.
Action taken
Tunisian Indian Fertilizers began operating as a joint venture in which CPG-GCT held 70 percent and Coromandel International and Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals held 15 percent each.
Aftermath
The venture added an international partnership to Tunisia’s phosphate-processing chain, although CPG’s broader production later faced severe disruption from labor unrest and market competition.
2008
Announced reduction of local workforceStrategyBackground
CPG announced plans to reduce local employees from approximately 11,000 to 5,000 as part of an employment and operating-cost restructuring.
Action taken
The proposed reduction was followed by protests, railway blockades and broader mobilization by unemployed residents, relatives, trade unionists and some company workers.
Aftermath
The unrest became an important precursor to the social and political upheaval associated with Tunisia’s 2010–2011 revolution.
Recent events
- 2016
Transparency concerns raised over CPG-GCT governance[1]
Regulation · Other
A report cited limited public information about the group’s finances, boards, committees, contracts and audit activities, including the absence of published CPG financial statements despite legal requirements.
- 2015
CPG management suspends administrative and social activities[1]
Other · Leadership change
In May, company managers and agents reportedly suspended administrative and social activities, stopped payments and closed the head office amid continuing operational and social pressures.
- 2014
Government recruitment concessions expand CPG workforce[1]
Other
To respond to employment demands in the Gafsa region, the government cancelled some outsourcing arrangements and transferred supplier employees into CPG. The reported workforce increased substantially between 2010 and 2014.
- 2011
Post-revolution strikes sharply disrupt phosphate production[1]
Other · Regulation
Strikes and protest movements organized after the fall of the Ben Ali regime contributed to a major decline in CPG output and the loss of international market share, particularly in India.
- 2008
CPG becomes a focal point of Gafsa employment protests[1]
Other
The company’s plan to reduce local employees from approximately 11,000 to 5,000 triggered protests involving unemployed young people, relatives, trade unionists and some CPG workers. Demonstrations included occupation of a union office and blockades of railway tracks used to move phosphate.
Sources1 sources
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