Tuesday 22 March 2011

Gas, Diesel and Electricity crisis continues in Yemen



By Ashwaq Arrabyee

Hundreds of drivers were seen lining up in front of fuel stations waiting to fill up their vehicles or barrels with diesel or gas during this week.

Most of Yemeni farmers, vehicles, truck drivers depend mainly on diesel to run their daily businesses. Moreover, houses and restaurants rely on gas and would be affected by the shortages of gas.

"I am here since early morning, but still there are a lot of people lining up in rows waiting to buy gas cylinders. I don't have gas to cook food for my family," a woman said while waiting her turn in front of one of Yemen Gas Company Branch in Sana'a.

In addition, as a result of the current crisis, citizens have been subjected to blackmailing and manipulation in the prices of gas.

Rashid Morshid, a citizen, said, "The gas crisis is on the rise especially when some gas shops monopolize it to sell it later at higher prices. The market price of gas cylinder is YR 1100 and now, its price ranges between YR 2000 to YR3000 in the black market."


Furthermore, the current situation in Yemen has also pushed many people to rush to fuel stations and gas stores to buy more quantities of diesel, oil and gas cylinders to keep in storage, fearing it might become unavailable on the market and that consequently deepens the crisis.

The governmental concerned authorities attributed the notable diesel and gas shortage to a blocking the roads leading to Sana'a and seizing gas and diesel trucks by some tribes in Mareb, east of Yemen.

The Director of Yemeni gas Company, Anwar Salem, said the reason behind the current crisis is blocking the roads leading to Sana'a by some tribes in Mareb.

In return, tribal sources denied, in a statement issued by some tribes in Mareb, the relation of Mareb tribes with gas and diesel crisis.

The statement confirmed that Mareb tribes had no relation with blocking Sana'a-Mareb road, pointing out that the regime had encouraged some tribal groups to create some problems in the roads.

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