“PetroMasila” Announces Successful Operation of Heavy Fuel Oil Refinery Unit After Two Years of Halted Oil Exports
Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
PetroMasila, the state-owned oil exploration and production company in Yemen, announced the successful initial operation of its heavy fuel oil (mazut) refinery unit and the production of high-quality pilot quantities.
The company’s CEO, Mohamed Ahmed bin Somait, said that this achievement comes within the company’s plans for diversification, development, and growth after the halt of oil exports due to the damage to the export floating facility more than two years ago.
Bin Somait announced the donation of this pilot quantity to power generation stations in Hadramaut Governorate under the direct supervision and responsibility of the local authority, noting that the citizens of Hadramaut Governorate are the primary beneficiaries and true stakeholders in this project.
He added that behind this achievement are highly complex engineering and construction works that have been ongoing at the site for more than a year. These complex tasks were carried out within the Central Processing Facility (CPF) in Sector 14 alongside a fully operational operating system.
This strategic project will save the government a lot of foreign currency, help the governorate generate electricity, and will be another source of income for PetroMasila and its employees during this difficult period.
The Hadramaut tribal alliance allowed, in the middle of last week, limited quantities of diesel from the company, allocated for public service facilities, to pass to all areas of the eastern governorate, under its supervision.
The alliance had previously set up armed checkpoints in oil production areas to pressure the government to meet its demands. The alliance said in a statement that its decision to allow the passage of diesel shipments came out of its responsibility towards citizens and the stability of their services.
Hadramaut tribal alliance is demanding the implementation of the decisions taken by the comprehensive Hadramaut conference on July 13, which are demands related to services and administrative affairs in the governorate.
In recent months, the governorate’s cities have witnessed angry protests and road closures due to the continuous power outages, especially in the summer.
Hadramaut produces about 100,000 barrels per day from the Masila field, which is operated by the state-owned “PetroMasila” company, which considered to be the total Yemeni crude oil production at the present time, with a number of oil sectors halting exports.
The oil and gas sector is the most important source of revenue for the internationally recognized government, which is based in Aden, as it accounts for 70% of its income but unfortunately Houthi attacks two years ago on oil facilities in eastern Yemen led to the halt of exports.
