12 April 2010
It is undoubtedly the biggest project in the recent history of Yemen, costing over $4.5 billion, and boosting the country's production capacity to 6.7 million tons of LNG per year.
The trial production of the LNG project pumps liquefied natural gas from the source in section 18 of Mareb through a 320 kilometers long pipeline to the liquefying plant in Balhaf.
Production at the second train of the liquefaction plant at Balhaf on the Gulf of Aden began on Friday. "The future of Yemen is promising in the field of gas," said Ameer al-Aidarous, Minister of Oil and Minerals. "The second train was a success story and has been completed before the specified time," the Minister added. He toured the project and its various facilities, including the control and liquefying units, and was briefed on their operations.
He pointed out that the Ministry has set oil production sharing agreements taking into consideration gas exploration at oil fields. He additionally confirmed that Yemen is presently looking for and negotiating with investors who are willing to spend capital on gas investment within Yemen.
"The production will increase gradually from the second train, until it reaches 6.7 million cubic meters annually. Eighteen shipments will be exported this year.
By next year 100-150 shipments will be exported annually," said Francois Ravan, the Director General of Yemen Liquefied Natural Gas co.
It is undoubtedly the biggest project in the recent history of Yemen, costing over $4.5 billion, and boosting the country's production capacity to 6.7 million tons of LNG per year.
The trial production of the LNG project pumps liquefied natural gas from the source in section 18 of Mareb through a 320 kilometers long pipeline to the liquefying plant in Balhaf.
Production at the second train of the liquefaction plant at Balhaf on the Gulf of Aden began on Friday. "The future of Yemen is promising in the field of gas," said Ameer al-Aidarous, Minister of Oil and Minerals. "The second train was a success story and has been completed before the specified time," the Minister added. He toured the project and its various facilities, including the control and liquefying units, and was briefed on their operations.
He pointed out that the Ministry has set oil production sharing agreements taking into consideration gas exploration at oil fields. He additionally confirmed that Yemen is presently looking for and negotiating with investors who are willing to spend capital on gas investment within Yemen.
"The production will increase gradually from the second train, until it reaches 6.7 million cubic meters annually. Eighteen shipments will be exported this year.
By next year 100-150 shipments will be exported annually," said Francois Ravan, the Director General of Yemen Liquefied Natural Gas co.
By Iscander al-Mamari
© Yemen Observer 2010
