An empty area is seen as a breach of a wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones.

Workers install more piping for effluent to flow at Port Manatee, where a breach in a nearby wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones.

A general view of Port Manatee, near a wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant, which leaky containment wall forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones

Effluent spews from a pipe into a ditch at Port Manatee, where a breach in a nearby wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones

Effluent spews from a pipe into a ditch at Port Manatee, where a breach in a nearby wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones

Effluent spews from a pipe into a ditch at Port Manatee, where a breach in a nearby wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones

Algae is seen in the waterways near Port Manatee, just a few miles away from a wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant, which leaky containment wall forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones

A view of a cargo ship docked at Port Manatee, near a wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant, which leaky containment wall forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones

A view of a worker on a cargo ship docked at Port Manatee, near a wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant, which leaky containment wall forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones

A view of a cargo ship docked at Port Manatee, near a wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant, which leaky containment wall forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones

A general view of a waterway near Port Manatee, just a few miles away from a wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant, which leaky containment wall forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones

A Great Blue Heron is seen in a waterway near Port Manatee waterway, just a few miles away from a wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant, which leaky containment wall forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones.

A Great Blue Heron is seen in mangroves near Port Manatee waterway, just a few miles away from a wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant, which leaky containment wall forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones.

A general view of a waterway near Port Manatee, just a few miles away from a wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant, which leaky containment wall forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones.

Recreational boaters are seen off the shore of Piney Point Park, where a leaky containment wall at a wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones.

A Hillsborough County Marine Safety patrol boat is seen off the shore of Piney Point Park, where the leaky containment wall of a wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones.

A general view of Piney Point Park looking towards St. Petersburg, Florida, just a mile away from a wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant, which leaky containment wall forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones.

Jerry Winters, who lives on Piney Point Road, less than a mile from where a wastewater reservoir with a leaky containment wall on the site of a defunct phosphate plant forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, waits in his buggy for updates in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones.

A general view of Piney Point Park over looking Tampa Bay, near a wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant, which leaky containment wall forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones

A general view of the entrance to Port Manatee located near a wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant, which leaky containment wall forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones.

U.S. Highway 41 northbound and southbound are closed after a breach of a wastewater reservoir on the site of a defunct phosphate plant forced an evacuation order for hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio Jones.

A reservoir of a defunct phosphate plant south of Tampa, where a leak at a waste water reservoir forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, is seen in an aerial photograph taken in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 4, 2021. Picture taken April 4, 2021. REUTERS/Drone Base

A reservoir of a defunct phosphate plant south of Tampa, where a leak at a waste water reservoir forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes and threatened to flood the area and Tampa Bay with polluted water, is seen in an aerial photograph taken in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 4, 2021. Picture taken April 4, 2021. REUTERS/Drone Base

A reservoir of an old phosphate plant, the site of a breach which is leaking polluted water into the surrounding area, prompting an evacuation order in Manatee County, is seen in an aerial photograph taken in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 3, 2021. Picture taken April 3, 2021. REUTERS/Drone Base

A reservoir of an old phosphate plant, the site of a breach which is leaking polluted water into the surrounding area, prompting an evacuation order in Manatee County, is seen in an aerial photograph taken in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 3, 2021. Picture taken April 3, 2021. REUTERS/Drone Base

A reservoir of an old phosphate plant, the site of a breach which is leaking polluted water into the surrounding area, prompting an evacuation order in Manatee County, is seen in an aerial photograph taken in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 3, 2021. Picture taken April 3, 2021. REUTERS/Drone Base

A reservoir of an old phosphate plant, the site of a breach which is leaking polluted water into the surrounding area, prompting an evacuation order in Manatee County, is seen in an aerial photograph taken in Piney Point, Florida, U.S. April 3, 2021. Picture taken April 3, 2021. REUTERS/Drone Base

A motorist drive past phosphate storage shed at the Dorowa mine in Hwedza, Zimbabwe October 22, 2019. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo

A worker is seen sampling packed phosphate at a packing warehouse at the Dorowa mine in Hwedza, Zimbabwe October 22, 2019. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo

A worker is seen sampling packaged phosphate at a packing warehouse at the Dorowa mine in Hwedza, Zimbabwe October 22, 2019. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo

A man passes under a conveyor belt that transports a treated phosphate to the chemical group in Mdhilla, Tunisia February 13, 2019. Picture taken February 13, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

A bulldozer transports a treated phosphate to be put in wagons at a phosphate production plant in Metlaoui, Tunisia February 8, 2019. Picture taken February 8, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

A worker reacts at a phosphate production plant at the end of his shift in Metlaoui, Tunisia February 8, 2019. Picture taken February 8, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

Vehicles transport an untreated phosphate at a phosphate production plant in Metlaoui, Tunisia February 8, 2019. Picture taken February 8, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

A worker drives a bulldozer, transporting a treated phosphate to be put in wagons, at a phosphate production plant in Metlaoui, Tunisia February 8, 2019. Picture taken February 8, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

A general view of the Metlaoui phosphate production plant in Metaloui, Tunisia February 8, 2019. Picture taken February 8, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

A general view of the Metlaoui phosphate production plant in Metaloui, Tunisia February 8, 2019. Picture taken February 8, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

A general view of the Metlaoui phosphate production plant in Metaloui, Tunisia February 8, 2019. Picture taken February 8, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

A worker is seen at a phosphate production plant in Metlaoui, Tunisia February 8, 2019. Picture taken February 8, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

A general view of the Mdhilla phosphate production plant in Mdhilla, Tunisia February 9, 2019. Picture taken February 9, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

A general view of the Mdhilla phosphate production plant in Mdhilla, Tunisia February 9, 2019. Picture taken February 9, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

A general view of the Mdhilla phosphate production plant in Mdhilla, Tunisia February 9, 2019. Picture taken February 9, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

A bulldozer works at a phosphate factory in Mdhilla, Tunisia February 9, 2019. Picture taken February 9, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

Vehicles transport untreated phosphate at a phosphate mine in Mdhilla, Tunisia February 9, 2019. Picture taken February 9, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

A vehicle transports untreated phosphate at a phosphate mine in Mdhilla, Tunisia February 9, 2019. Picture taken February 9, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

Boubaker Akremi, 37, who works at the state phosphate company CPG, drives his motorbike to work at a phosphate mine, in Mdhilla, Tunisia February 14, 2019. Picture taken February 14, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

Heavy machinery is seen at a phosphate mine in Mdhilla, Tunisia February 9, 2019. Picture taken February 9, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

Heavy machinery is seen at a phosphate mine in Mdhilla, Tunisia February 9, 2019. Picture taken February 9, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

Dynamite explosions blast rock mass at a phosphate mine in Mdhilla, Tunisia February 15, 2019. Picture taken February 15, 2019. TO MATCH INSIGHT TUNISIA-ECONOMY/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

A sign is seen for niobium and phosphate mining facilities owned by China Molybdenum Co Ltd (CMOC) in Catalao, Goias state, Brazil October 5, 2018. Picture taken October 5, 2018. REUTERS/Jake Spring

A sign is seen for niobium and phosphate mining facilities owned by China Molybdenum Co Ltd (CMOC) in Catalao, Goias state, Brazil October 5, 2018. Picture taken October 5, 2018. REUTERS/Jake Spring

A general view shows the phosphate mine in Umm al-arais, Tunisia February 15, 2018. Picture taken February 15, 2018.REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi *** Local Caption *** A general view shows the phosphate mine in Umm al-arais

Protesters stand outside a tent near the entrance of the phosphate mine in Umm al-arais, Tunisia February 15, 2018. Picture taken February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi *** Local Caption *** Protesters are seen near tents the entrance to the phosphate mine in Umm al-arais

The logo of Gafsa Phosphate Company is seen at the entrance to the mine in Umm al-arais, Tunisia February 15, 2018. Picture taken February 15, 2018.REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi *** Local Caption *** The logo of Gafsa Phosphate Company is seen the entrance to the mine closed in Umm al-arais

Protesters sit outside a tent near the entrance of the phosphate mine in Umm al-arais, Tunisia February 15, 2018. Picture taken February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi *** Local Caption *** Protesters are seen near tents the entrance to the phosphate mine in Umm al-arais

A general view shows the entrance of the phosphate mine in Umm al-arais, Tunisia February 15, 2018. Picture taken February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi *** Local Caption *** A general view shows the entrance to the phosphate mine in Umm al-arais

Protesters sit in a tent near the entrance of the phosphate mine in Umm al-arais, Tunisia February 15, 2018. Picture taken February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi *** Local Caption *** Protesters are seen near tents the entrance to the phosphate mine in Umm al-arais

Protesters sit outside a tent near the entrance of the phosphate mine in Umm al-arais, Tunisia February 15, 2018. Picture taken February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi *** Local Caption *** Protesters are seen near tents the entrance to the phosphate mine in Umm al-arais

Carte de la Tunisie localisant les récentes manifestations ainsi que les installations abritant du phosphate, du gaz et du pétrole, menacées de blocage par les manifestants

Tunisia's President Beji Caid Essebsi on Wednesday ordered the army to protect phosphate, gas and oil production facilities after protests in the country.