Mid-term review of EP3 Tunisia program

Mid-term review covers the period 10/93-3/95. Project interventions have significantly increased Tunisia"s awareness of environmental problems and the importance of pollution prevention. EP3 Tunisia has conducted 5 outreach seminars and 7 training activities attended by more than 500 participants, including over 200 from industry, 80 from government, and 200 consultant and engineering students. In addition, project staff have participated in over 15 national and international conferences and seminars and met individually with over 100 government and industry representatives. EP3 Tunisia has conducted pollution prevention assessments at 10 industrial plants and 2 hotels, in the process identifying 185 pollution prevention measures, including 50 process modification, 45 general good housekeeping, 27 energy conservation, 22 water conservation, 10 in-process recycling, and 13 materials substitution measures. Implementation of these measures, which is well underway, is expected, on an annual basis, to reduce operating costs by 3 million DT and to conserve 230,000 cubic meters of water, 600,000 KW of electricity, 500,000 cubic meters of gas, and 120,000 liters of fuel oil. No other Tunisian entity offers similar or comparable pollution prevention services. The project has worked with the Government of Tunisia (GOT) to promote the pollution prevention concept and practice. In 12/93, EP3 Tunisia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Environment and Territorial Management (MEAT) to collaborate with MEAT and the National Environmental Protection Agency (ANPE) toward this objective. MEAT and ANPE regret that the USAID program will terminate in 9/95, especially since EP3 Tunisia represents an important and in some respects unique resource for future pollution prevention activities. The project has become a major source of pollution prevention information in Tunisia. Its library contains more than 200 publications and reports in hard copy, as well as the Tunisian Environmental Information System, which is accessible via Internet. With support from EP3 Washington, EP3 Tunisia has responded to over 20 information requests from government agencies, educational institutions, and industries. The GOT has adopted a proactive approach to environmental protection and sustainable development as evidenced by a number of policies and programs. One such program, the Ecotechnology Center, scheduled to open before the end of the year, indicates clear GOT commitment to pollution prevention and clean technologies. However, other indicators provide mixed signals. There is confusion, for example, within both government and industry whether the Clean-Up Fund (FODEP) covers pollution prevention investments of not. If the government clarifies its commitment to pollution prevention, demand for prevention services will certainly increase. There is also evidence that the occasional and nominal fees charged by EP3 thus far could be raised.