Minister of Oil and Minerals Hisham Sharaf revealed on Monday that Yemen has lost approximately two billion dollars due to the frequent sabotage attacks targeting the oil and gas pipelines in the country, especially in the central province of Marib.

Sharaf pointed out that this great loss has largely affected the national economy-- which is on the verge of collapse—, prevented the people from using their own natural resources and distorted the image of Yemen in terms of oil industry.

In a field visit Marib, where most of the sabotage attacks occur, he said what’s required now is to repair the pipelines and to make sure that they are operational again.

Sharaf underlined the importance of looking into the reasons which led to the current situation, addressing the inhabitants’ rightful grievances and developing the province and activating its economic role.

However, he strongly condemned the sabotage attacks which targeted the oil and gas pipelines and brought Yemen’s oil production capacity to a halt. He further considered the sabotage attacks as a way aimed to derail the international efforts and the transitional process in the country.

Meanwhile, the power transmission lines in Marib were sabotaged yet again by unidentified saboteurs who called for releasing a saboteur arrested by the government after he was burned by the power lines when he attempted to attack them.

On Sunday, another saboteur carried out a sabotage attack against the electricity supply lines in the province and called on the government to grant him a scholarship to Canada for him to stop his sabotage attacks, according to local media outlets.