Geothermal resource development in agriculture in Kebili region, Southern Tunisia

Geothermal energy in the Kebili region, south of Tunisia, is used in a number of applications, but mainly in agriculture. Approximately 95% of the thermal water is used for irrigation of oases and heating greenhouses. Generally, when the water temperature is less than 40–45 °C it is used directly for irrigation, but when it exceeds 45 °C it is cooled by means of atmospheric towers before being used to irrigate 16,000 hectares of oases (half of the total area of the oases in Tunisia). Geothermal energy is also used for heating and irrigating greenhouses, which are considered promising and economically feasible applications. The total area of heated greenhouses in the country has increased considerably and is today at 103 ha, 44% of which are located in the Kebili area. Utilization of the geothermal resources will, without a doubt, increase in the near future once we have implemented the last phase of the greenhouse project. By the end of 2003, 13 ha will be added in the region, representing an increase of 29%.