Yemen Monitor/ Aden/ Newsroom:
For the first time during winter, the city of Aden is suffering from a complete power outage, sparking public anger at the failure of the Yemeni government led by Ahmed bin Mubarak.
Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak had promised at the beginning of his tenure last February to find a solution to the electricity crisis in Yemen’s southern coastal cities. However, officials in his government say they are facing systematic sabotage by corrupt and influential individuals, most of whom belong to the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC).
The Aden General Electricity Corporation announced a complete outage on Monday. In a statement, it said the outage was due to the complete shutdown of the main Aden power station (PetroMasila) “as a result of the cutting of the international line in Abyan Governorate and the prevention of oil tankers from reaching the station.”
The statement added, “This shutdown represents a suffocating humanitarian crisis, adding new burdens to the suffering of the people of Aden and neighboring governorates.”
The corporation warned that “the complete blackout experienced by the capital Aden for the first time during winter threatens serious consequences, including the shutdown of vital facilities such as hospitals and health centers, the interruption of water supplies, and the disruption of services and commercial activities.”
Reuters quoted an official from the Aden Electricity Corporation as saying that the outage of the main power station in Aden also led to the inability to utilize the new 120-megawatt solar power plant, resulting in a complete power outage for Aden and neighboring areas.
The electricity crisis is worsening as Yemenis face the worst economic and living crisis in the country’s history, which has eroded their savings amid the decline in the local currency and weak wages.
Residents of southern Yemeni governorates are extremely angry at the unprecedented deterioration of services. In recent days, several areas in the cities of Aden, Lahj, and Abyan have witnessed angry popular protests during which protesters set tires on fire and blocked roads.
The internationally recognized government says it spends the equivalent of $1.2 billion annually, or $100 million per month, to provide fuel and rent power generation stations, but revenues do not cover the cost.
Mohamed Ali in Sheikh Othman told Yemen Monitor, “The entire presidential council is corrupt, incompetent, and cases of corruption are eating away at its administrative and service apparatus. A revolution is necessary to force it to implement the demands of the people.” He is referring to a council of eight officials representing the presidency that suffers from internal disputes, which officials say are hindering the government’s work.
In recent days, Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak has been accused of corruption, and he has not commented on these accusations.
He pointed out that the current situation is occurring in winter, “In the summer, it seems that we will die from the heat” as temperatures reach 45 degrees Celsius.
Aden usually suffers from power outages, but this is the first time it has been completely out of service in winter.
