Aden power crisis deepens as generation drops sharply

ADEN, May 12 (YPA) – The Aden-based electricity corporation, controlled by pro-Saudi forces, announced on Monday a significant drop in power generation after around 130 megawatts were lost from the capacity of the PetroMasila plant, which operates on crude fuel, further worsening living conditions as the summer season intensifies.

The media officer of Aden Electricity, Nowar Abkar, stated that the PetroMasila plant in the Haswa area has lost nearly half of its output, falling from 264 MW to around 130 MW, due to a severe shortage in crude fuel supplies coming from Hadramout.

He explained that this shortfall has directly led to a sharp decline in electricity generation and a noticeable increase in daily power outages across the city, coinciding with extremely high temperatures.

The crisis has unfolded amid growing accusations directed at the Saudi-appointed governor of Hadramout, Salem Al-Khanbashi, of withholding crude fuel shipments intended for Aden’s power stations, reportedly conditioning their release on prioritizing electricity supply within Hadramout, a dispute that reflects ongoing tensions among Saudi-aligned authorities.

As a result, the gap between supply and demand has widened significantly, with consumption exceeding 630 MW while actual generation remains limited to around 257 MW during the day and 191 MW in the evening, creating a deficit of more than 373 MW and leaving residents with power cuts exceeding seven hours compared to only two hours of supply.

The worsening electricity crisis has also forced the Water and Sanitation Corporation to suspend its services last week, raising warnings of an impending environmental and public health emergency affecting thousands of residents in the city.