A second well is due to come online at Tunisia’s onshore Zaafrane permit before the end of the month, according to an industry source.

The site currently has one active production well producing 2,000 barrels a day (b/d) of oil and 15 million standard cubic feet of gas per day of gas.

The first well is ramping up output and is expected to eventually produce around 5,000 b/d.

Production from the second well is expected to add further oil and gas production in line with well tests that were conducted in 2015.

Mazarine Energy Tunisia has a 45 per cent interest in the Zaafrane exploration license, which it acquired in October 2013.

The other stakeholders are the Tunisian state oil company ETAP, which holds a 50 per cent stake and Paris-headquartered Medex Petroleum, which holds 5 per cent.

Tunisia’s oil and gas production currently stands at around 44,000 b/d.

Since the 2011 uprising in the country efforts to increase production have been dogged by civil unrest and protests.

In May this year the London-based energy company Perenco saw sit-ins halt production at its Baguel and Tarfa gas and condensate fields.

Canada-based Serinus Energy also saw production disrupted at its Chouech Essaida field in southern Tunisia.