Aden (South24)

Today, Yemeni news agency Saba announced the shipment of emergency fuel to Aden Electricity from the UAE, the first batch of which will arrive at the port of Aden on board an oil tanker today.

Saba also reported that today, the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Rashad Al-Alimi, met with the UAE ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al-Zaabi, at Maashiq Palace in the capital, Aden.

“The meeting touched on developments in the Yemeni situation, and the UAE support programs currently being implemented and expected [..] including the emergency fuel shipment, the first batch of which arrives today at the port of Aden,” the agency noted.

The announcement of the fuel shipment comes as the stifling electricity crisis, which has plagued Aden for the past few weeks, reached its peak days ago, with power outages hitting levels of 20 total hours per day.

Coinciding with today’s arrival of the UAE ambassador, the Southern Transitional Council President (STC) and PLC Member Aidrous Al-Zubaidi arrived in Aden from the UAE, accompanied by the Governor of Aden, Ahmed Lamlas.

#BREAKING

STC President and PLC member Aidrous Al-Zubaidi arrived in the capital city Aden coming from the UAE #south24 pic.twitter.com/0dSUPH18Ea

— South24 | English (@South24E) November 7, 2023

The STC had previously warned against the creation of new service and economic crises following the electricity crisis. The STC accused "influential figures" in the Yemeni government of planning to do so during the coming period.

Related: STC warns against fabricating new economic crises 

The electricity crisis in Aden and other southern governorates represents one of the largest service problems, many of which have been growing for years without any solution in sight.

Aden suffers from devastating electrical infrastructure problems and a maximum generational capacity of 340 megawatts, despite eletricity needs reaching up to 700 megawatts in the summer. 

In addition to the infrastructural issues, the Yemeni government, while facing accusations of corruption, has failed to provide fuel for power plants. Over the past two years, Aden Electricity has relied entirely on Saudi fuel grants worth millions of dollars.