Barran Press
Newly appointed Yemeni Prime Minister Salem bin Bureik held his first meeting in Aden today, dedicating the session to the severe electricity crisis gripping the interim capital and southern governorates.
Bin Bureik, who returned to Aden on Sunday after a month-long delay reportedly seeking financial support, convened with Minister of Oil and Minerals Saeed Al-Shamasi and Minister of Electricity and Energy Mane'e Bin Yameen. Discussions focused on fuel supply for power stations and increasing generation capacity to reduce outages before the Eid al-Adha holiday, according to Yemen's official SABA news agency.
The Prime Minister urged both ministries to find unconventional solutions to stabilize the power grid and maintain adequate fuel reserves. He stressed that addressing the electricity issue was his top priority upon return, signaling his government's understanding of citizens' suffering, especially with summer approaching.
Bin Bureik also noted directives to boost fuel flow to Aden's power plants, from both local and imported sources, and called for a strategic fuel reserve.
The ministers detailed efforts to diversify fuel sources and provided updates on the electricity situation in Hadramout, Lahj, and Abyan, outlining ongoing solutions. The meeting also explored immediate and necessary measures to address the power deficit.
Bin Bureik return with Presidential Leadership Council head Rashad Al-Alimi comes amid a worsening economic crisis, deteriorating services, and a plummeting local currency in government-controlled areas. The Prime Minister affirmed his government's commitment to meeting citizen needs, supporting local authorities, and addressing urgent priorities to alleviate suffering and contain economic and service decline.
Aden faces a near-total collapse of its electricity system, with daily power cuts exceeding 22 hours – the worst in the city's history. Residents have staged weeks of protests, initially led by women, against the dire living conditions and service failures, particularly the power outages, amid a perceived lack of genuine government solutions.