Emirati company hikes demotic gas cylinder price in Socotra to YR 50,000

SOCOTRA, Nov. 01 (YPA) – The UAE-based “Eastern Triangle” company has imposed a new price hike on household gas in the Yemeni Socotra archipelago, setting the price of a single cylinder at 50,000 Yemeni Riyals (YR)—an amount equivalent to a full employee’s monthly salary.

This move has sparked widespread popular resentment and anger.

Local activists in Socotra confirmed that this sudden surge has caused significant hardship for many families, leaving them unable to afford their basic gas needs, particularly amid a complete absence of official price monitoring.

The danger of this price increase lies in its potential environmental ramifications, as the high cost threatens to drive residents towards illegal logging (deforestation) of the rare and endemic trees for which Socotra is famous as a global natural reserve. This poses a serious threat to the archipelago’s unique biodiversity.

Residents are appealing to the government loyal to the Saudi-led coalition and the “Presidential Leadership Council” to address the violations by the Emirati company, which has taken control of all vital services on the island.

YPA