Aden electricity crisis deepens as daily blackouts exceed 13 hours

ADEN, May 13 (YPA) – Yemen’s southern port city of Aden, controlled by Saudi-backed forces, is witnessing record-long power outages amid a near-total collapse of the electricity system and growing public anger over deteriorating living conditions.

Local technical and media sources said daily power outages have exceeded 13 hours, with electricity supply limited to just two hours, following the shutdown of the PetroMasila power plant due to fuel shortages.

They added that most power stations in southern and eastern Yemen have also gone out of service due to a lack of oil supplies.

Sources attributed the crisis to the failure to secure fuel supplies from the oil-producing provinces of Hadramout and Shabwa, despite the city’s estimated demand of more than 600 megawatts.

They said only Al- Mansoura power station and a limited number of small backup generators remain operational, providing insufficient capacity to meet minimum demand amid soaring summer temperatures.

The city’s solar power plant has also reportedly experienced a sharp decline in output, further worsening the electricity deficit as demand continues to rise.

The collapse of electricity services in the city has exposed the failure of Saudi-backed promises promoted over recent months by the Saudi military representative in Aden, Falah al-Shahrani.

The report said the promises fell apart at the first real test in the summer season amid a failure to secure fuel for power stations.

The crisis has fueled growing public anger and calls for mass protests outside the Ma’ashiq Palace, where the government is based, over worsening basic services, including electricity and water shortages.

@E.Y.M