Yemen’s only LNG export facility in Balhaf has reportedly stopped its operations after foreign experts were evacuated from the plant on Sunday.
According to Reuters, the Shi’ite Houthis seized President Abd-Rabbu Mansur Hadi’s chief of staff, Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak on Saturday amid a dispute over a proposed new constitution that threatens to bring down the government.
Several oil firms with small production capacities have closed their operations in protest of the kidnapping, Reuters informs.
Yemen LNG said in December that two explosions occurred offshore and onshore outside the Balhaf plant, coming from two rocket-launched explosive devices. There was no damage or casualties.
The company did not answer calls and e-mail seeking comment on the operations shutdown by the time this article was published.
The Yemen LNG project, operated by France’s Total, consists of two liquefaction trains with a total capacity of 6.7 Mtpa. It has three long-term contracts to supply LNG to GDF Suez, Kogas and Total Gas & Power.
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LNG World News Staff; Image: Yemen LNG