Shabwa, Yemen – The internationally recognized Yemeni government has reinstated the American company Jannah Hunt to operate the fifth oil sector in the Aysilan district of Shabwa province, replacing the national firm Petromasila, which resigned earlier this month.

According to a document from the Yemeni Oil and Mineral Investments Company, a meeting of the operational committee was held on November 18, 2024, to discuss appointing a new operator following Petromasila's resignation letter dated November 1, 2024.

The document, reviewed by Baran Press, indicated that the committee considered Jannah Hunt's proposal, submitted on November 11, 2024, to take on the operator role, noting the company's previous track record and "outstanding services" in the sector. The committee voted in favor of appointing Jannah Hunt as the new operator, effective January 1, 2025.

Responsibilities from Petromasila, which has operated the sector since early 2022, will be transferred to Jannah Hunt, including the payment of employee salaries. The document stated that Petromasila had stepped down due to ongoing financial and production crises, compounded by a halt in oil exports, which increased financial liabilities and pressure on sector partners.

Previously, the Yemeni Oil and Mineral Investments Company employees' union had protested the decision to assign Petromasila to operate the sector, arguing that it lacked the legal capacity to serve the interests of private sector partners.

In a related development, Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak sent a letter to the Attorney General detailing alleged violations by the executive director of the Oil Investments Company, accusing him of failing to protect public assets and acting unilaterally in negotiations concerning the operation of oil sectors. The letter included a comprehensive file of the alleged violations, leading to an investigation to hold those responsible accountable, reaffirming the Prime Minister's commitment to preserving public funds and combating corruption as a top priority.