Yemen Monitor/private:
Hadramout Governorate has witnessed rapid developments on the security and political fronts, with a renewed struggle between various centers of influence vying for control of the governorate and its natural resources. These events reflect the complexity of the situation in Hadramout, which is experiencing significant impacts from regional interventions.
In the past two days, media exchanges escalated between the Vice President of the Leadership Council, Faraj Al-Bahsani, and the Governor of Hadramout, Mabkhout bin Madhi, reaching the point of exchanging statements and accusations between the two parties, blaming each other for the recent problems in Hadramout, after allegations by the Vice President of the Leadership Council, Faraj Al-Bahsani, about the existence of an oil pipeline outside the government system and an oil refinery away from the government and local budget.
Al-Bahsani said in a statement on the X platform earlier that during his visit, he discovered, based on information, “the existence of a large-diameter oil pipeline extending from near the oil tanks in Al-Dabba and towards one of the yards located at a distance from the site of the Al-Dabba facilities, for the purpose of pumping crude oil and refining it illegally.”
He added that he directed “to take legal measures regarding violations and practices of smuggling and plundering quantities of oil in illegitimate ways,” stressing “the accountability of all those involved in plundering and smuggling sovereign resources.”
The Latest Escalation
Al-Bahsani’s accusations prompted Hadramout Governor Mabkhout Mubarak bin Madhi to issue a statement regarding the recent escalation in the governorate.
The statement said, ” the recent escalation in Hadramout Governorate, and the controversy surrounding some misinformation that seeks to undermine the governorate, the development projects being implemented in it, in addition to the relative stability in the services sector.”
It stated that the crude oil refining unit at the Al-Riyan station (Public Electricity Corporation – Hadramout Coast Area) was officially established after addressing the higher authorities and informing them of the matter, and coordinating with the Ministry of Oil and Minerals and PetroMasila Company to supply the unit with the necessary crude oil for refining, according to an official mechanism documented in the records of the Public Electricity Corporation.
He pointed out that although the quantities received do not exceed two tankers per week, the temporary capital, Aden, is allocated five tankers per day of crude oil.
He noted that the local authority took this step after the cessation of diesel allocations from PetroMasila Company, and will not stand idly by without developing the necessary remedies available to overcome these difficulties, but rather the decision was taken in accordance with official frameworks.
He stressed the absence of any other refinery operating in the governorate, declaring the local authority’s abandonment of any refineries (if any).
He mentioned that it was directed to investigate this matter in coordination with the Ministry of Oil and Minerals and the competent authorities, to take the necessary legal measures.
He stated that the allegations of the existence of an oil pipeline linking the facilities of PetroMasila Company in Al-Dabba port with the refining unit in Al-Riyan station are false and baseless.
He said that, according to the confirmation of the Ministry of Oil and Minerals, the pipeline that was promoted is a former government project, where the government intended to connect it to a refinery that was planned to be established near Al-Dabba port, but the project stumbled and was not connected to the facilities of PetroMasila Company.
He stressed that the local authority is ready to cooperate with any government or regulatory body, in accordance with legal frameworks, to clarify the facts and refute lies and malicious rumors.
Petromasila Denies
For its part, Petromasila issued a clarification statement today, Friday, regarding the pipeline near the Dabba Port.
In the statement, it denied any connection to the pipeline extending near the Dabba Port, affirming that all of its operations are concentrated within the port’s boundaries.
It emphasized that the pipeline is part of a project overseen by the Ministry of Oil and has no relation to the port facilities. The local authority in Hadhramaut also clarified that the company is not linked to the mobile refining units on the coast.
It explained that oil disposal operations are conducted according to official directives, while adhering to all organizational procedures.
The executive office in Hadhramaut issued a statement indicating that an extraordinary meeting was held in the city of Mukalla on Thursday evening to discuss the latest developments in the province over the past hours.
It added: “The executive office condemned the arbitrary actions taken against some directors-general in the local authority outside the framework of the system and law by the member of the Presidential Leadership Council, Major General Faraj Salmin Al-Bahsani.”
The office called on the Head of the Presidential Leadership Council and the brothers in the Arab coalition countries to urgently intervene to put an end to what it described as “the imbalances and irresponsible actions” of Al-Bahsani, expressing the “local authority’s readiness in the province to be held accountable before any government or oversight body.”
The executive office of Hadhramaut expressed its “regret for such actions that should not come from a leading member of the Presidential Leadership Council,” affirming the “difficulty of fulfilling its tasks and duties amid these ongoing interventions without coordination and communication with the local authority leadership.”
Normalizing the Situation
Yesterday, Thursday, the Head of the Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen, Rashad Al-Alimi, stated, “The Presidential Leadership Council has announced a plan to normalize the situation in the province, which includes recognizing the legitimate demands of the people of Hadhramaut and working to address them according to an executive matrix in partnership with the government and local authority.”
He added in press statements, “We have great confidence in the wisdom of the people of this province, which has remained an example of the values of the state and a driving force for development, security, and peace in the country. The Presidential Leadership Council and the government will spare no effort to ensure justice for it and to enhance its established position in the national equation.”
