UK's Petrofac halting Tunisia gas production again due to protests- company officials

TUNIS, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Oil and gas industry contractor Petrofac (Amsterdam: PF6.AS - news) is halting gas production in Tunisia after two weeks of renewed protests on the southern Kerkennah islands, the company said on Wednesday.

The announcement comes just three months after Petrofac restarted operations at Kerkennah's Chergui gas field, following nine months of disruptions due to protests.

Petrofac had threatened in September to shut down operations entirely and leave Tunisia, but the government reached a deal with protesters demanding jobs and development.

Imed Darouich, head of Petrofac's operations in the North African country, said the company was now being forced to halt operations again because protesters were blocking trucks and stocks were running out.

"After 14 days of people blocking trucks, the company finds itself unable to produce," he told Reuters.

Petrofac officials declined to comment on local media reports that the company had once again told Tunisian authorities it would leave the country.

Petrofac's operations supply around 13 percent of Tunisia's domestic gas needs. It holds a 45 percent share at Chergui, with the rest held by a state-run company.

Any closure of operations would be a blow to Tunisia just as the government pushes to revive foreign investment, rein in the deficit, and spur growth through economic reform. Investment, growth and employment have been hit by labour unrest and militant attacks since Tunisia's 2011 uprising.

Government officials say importing gas from Algeria to make up for the shortfall caused by disruption to Petrofac's production during first nine months of 2016 had cost the government about $100 million. (Reporting By Tarek Amara; Editing by Aidan Lewis, Greg Mahlich)