The first shipments of a Saudi Arabian fuel grant have arrived in Socotra, Yemen, aimed at powering electricity generation plants across the archipelago. The delivery is part of a broader Saudi development and economic support package for Yemen.
According to reports, the fuel will be used to operate power stations located throughout the Socotra archipelago, which consists of four islands. This initiative falls under the Kingdom’s recently announced developmental support package, encompassing 28 development projects with a total value of 1.9 billion Saudi Riyals (approximately $506.67 million USD).
The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) stated that the grant includes both diesel and fuel oil to power the electricity plants. The goal is to ensure the continuity of essential services, improve the capacity of service facilities, and alleviate the financial burden on the Yemeni government.
Earlier this week, the SDRPY signed an agreement with the Yemeni Ministry of Energy and Electricity and the Yemeni oil company, PetroMasila. The agreement focuses on purchasing petroleum derivatives from PetroMasila to supply over 70 power generation plants in various Yemeni governorates.
According to a program statement, the total amount of petroleum derivatives is 339 million liters of diesel and fuel oil, valued at $81.2 million. This initiative aims to alleviate the suffering caused by power outages and ensure electricity supply for all residential, commercial, and service sector subscribers.
In related news, Saudi aid arrived via flights operated by the coalition supporting the legitimate government in Yemen. These flights are expected to continue for ten days to ensure a steady flow of humanitarian supplies.
Local sources in Socotra have indicated that the departure of Emirati forces from the island coincided with the withdrawal of equipment and the cessation of certain service support, creating a gap that directly impacted the lives of citizens. Saudi Arabia’s efforts are seen as a move to fill any void resulting from the cessation of those services.
