11 June 2008
The distribution of first land compensation cheques that passed the approval of the state-run Land Compensation Committee was launched today in Balhaf. Land compensation claims underwent a very rigorous scrutiny of all landownership documentation to ensure their validity and hence the eligibility of claimants to compensation according to Yemeni laws. Eight compensation payments were handed over to landowners from the Balhaf area out of an initial 48 confirmed beneficiaries from the district of Rodhoum, Shabwah Governorate.

At the event, Dr. Ali Hassan Al-Ahmadi, Governor of Shabwah, expressed his happiness that the process has started by paying those “claimants with genuine documentation”. He also emphasised the need for to promptly review pending claims from Balhaf and the pipeline route and issue recommendation for endorsement by the relevant authorities.

Marking the occasion, Mr. Abdul-Malik Alama, Chairman of the Land Compensation Committee, explained to attendants the various steps undertaken in the process. He also stressed that “the Committee has done its best to ensure that those who have right are compensated based on complete and valid legal documentation”.

The initial stages of the land compensation process began as early as 1995 when Yemen LNG in conjunction with the Government carried out a detailed survey of households that may be impacted by the project, both on the coast around Balhaf and along the pipeline route. The detailed surveys which were updated and revised in February 2006 have concluded that there is a relatively small number of cases of loss of property and land ownership. It was also concluded that no one will be relocated as a result of project activities, neither on the coast nor on the pipeline route.


To handle claims from landowners and users affected by the Project, two government decrees were issued to set up a Land Compensation Committee which is chaired by Mr. Alama. In addition, the Committee includes in its membership members of the Parliament, the Deputy Governors of Marib and Shabwah, the two governorates which the pipeline route crosses, and representative from the Land Authority and a Yemen LNG observer.


Technical committees were also created for both Marib and Shabwah to handle the initial review process of claims and legal documentation and recommend appropriate and fair action. Yemen LNG settles the final amounts agreed through this process.


Yemen LNG is committed to compensate all validated claims fairly in accordance with relevant Yemeni laws and international best practices.