Informed sources at the Ministry of Electricity revealed that the official launch of the gas-powered station in Mareb will be postponed for few days due to numerous problems.
According to pervious confirmations by the Minister of Electricity Awadh Al-Soctori, the Mareb plant was scheduled to be launched towards the end of last July.
The same sources noted that the ministry faces problems in Bani Hushaish districts where citizens refuse extending or erecting electrical poles in their agricultural lands before being compensated.
There were also reported problems in several areas in which the electrical poles are erected and an armed group fired on workers erecting the transmission lines.
According to sources at the ministry, launching the gas-powered plant in Mareb, whose total capacity reaches 340 megawatt, would help reduce the frequent cut of electricity in Yemen’s governorates; however, it will not solve completely the everlasting problems of electricity.
Over the last few days, electricity is cut for several hours; sometimes the power is cut for more than 6 hours a day. Citizens, especially those living in coastal areas where temperature hits high, suffer a great deal due to the frequent cuts of electricity from their houses and shops.
People also complain that the frequent and irregular cuts cause harms to their electrical machines, especially when the cutting is not regulated and happens all of a sudden.
As the new plant starts operation, the ministry will revoke several contracts signed with private companies like Al-Ahram, Tihama, Al-Saqr and the British Aggreko whose rented generators produce over 200 megawatts.
The ministry will dispense with 100 megawatts provided by the rented generators of these companies and it will also halt the operation of older generators placed in Dhahban station in Sana’a and Al-Mansourah in Aden because they use huge quantities of diesel.