SNCPA Outlines Five-Year Restructuring Plan to Restore Production and Cut Paper Imports

National Cellulose and Alfa Paper Company is preparing a five-year restructuring programme aimed at restoring full production capacity and reducing Tunisia’s reliance on imported paper, according to CEO Samia Briki.

The state-owned company, based in Kasserine, is currently operating at around 50% of its printing and writing paper production capacity due to ageing equipment. Efforts are underway to secure financing for upgrades after a state guarantee was approved during a ministerial council meeting focused on the company’s situation.

SNCPA is participating for the first time in the Tunis International Book Fair, where it is presenting samples of printing and writing paper, alfa pulp and green chemical products. The company said its presence at the event is intended to highlight its role in the publishing supply chain amid rising paper costs and supply constraints.

The restructuring plan includes rehabilitation of the company’s three production units: a paper production line for books and printing, an alfa pulp unit currently inactive due to lack of funding, and a chemical unit used in pulp processing. Briki said the programme will take five years to complete, including three years to upgrade paper production, one year to install the chemical unit, and a final phase to restart alfa pulp operations.

SNCPA is described as the only producer globally of alfa pulp for export, a material used in applications including paper, textiles and banknote production. The company said reviving this activity is a priority, particularly given its economic importance in the Kasserine region.

The business employs more than 700 people directly, with several thousand additional jobs linked to alfa collection and supply. The shutdown of the pulp unit has affected local employment and economic activity, making its restart central to the restructuring effort.

Briki said current production is focused on meeting demand for subsidised schoolbooks and notebooks, but added that additional capacity could be directed toward commercial printing markets once upgrades are completed. The plan is also intended to improve competitiveness and reduce production costs, enabling locally produced paper to compete more effectively with imports.