IBB - The price of natural gas used for domestic purposes in Ibb city has doubled in the recent days. Even those who are willing to pay this exaggerated price complain that it is hard to find.
"The prices are not the real problem for me, I have a problem finding an open shop that would allow me to refill our kitchen cylinders. We had to go to Taiz city in order to buy some gas to use at homes," said Motih Al-Amari, a resident in ibb city. "I spend most of my life time in U.S.A and during my long stay there I didn't find such gas crises."
Despite the fact that Yemen is one of Arabic countries producing natural gas, it suffers from frequent shortages.
The reason behind the gas crises according to official statements in the media is due to armed ambushes of gas containers on their way from Mareb where it is being produced to other governorates around the country.
"These days we have a problem obtaining gas from suppliers. They told us that terrorists blocked the way of gas containers coming from Mareb," explained Tawfeek a local gas cylinders shop owner in Ibb.
Restaurants are most affected by this shortage or increased prices as they needed to either increase the price of the meals which might risk losing customers or shut down completely.
Normally one gas cylinder would cost around YR 550 but now it has exceeded YR 1000.
"Since last week we have been suffering in order to find gas. If this continues we may be forced to close down," complained Ibrahim Ali, a restaurant owner.
In the country side of Ibb governorate gas cylinders are even scarcer and much more expensive. However, villagers are less affected than urban because villagers have alternative means for cooking fuel.
"The price of gas cylinder in my village is YR 1900. Gas merchants abuse the situation to get a high profit," claimed Bazel Al-Mohamedi, a farmer. "The Yemeni government should find an urgent solution for the gas crises; otherwise Yemeni people will get a negative impression for their political leaders who could not control the state's affairs."
By Mofeed Al-Gaad
© Yemen Times 2010
