30 October 2011
Balhaf – Yemen LNG and the Public Authority for Rural Electrification (PARE), Shabwah Office, signed in Balhaf today the construction contract of the coastal electrification project for the villages adjacent to the Yemen LNG plant in Balhaf, Shabwah Governorate.

By mid 2012, the grid will supply electricity from Balhaf LNG Plant to 10,000 inhabitants in the local communities of Jela’ah, Al-Jewairi, Ayn Bama’bad, Bir Ali and other villages on Al-Ayn Bay. A 33-Kilo Volt line will run from the Balhaf main power generators to the outside gate of the Plant in addition to a transformer and two feeders ready to be connected with the PARE power grid. Two three-phase networks will connect Ain Bama’abad crossing Jela’ah and Al-Jewairi villages with a total length of 32.5 km of network lines and Bir Ali town with a total length of 23 km. In addition, a low voltage network for both areas will be installed as part of the project. These components will produce a combined total power of 3 mega watt (MW).

Speaking on the occasion, Yemen LNG General Manager, François Rafin, stated that “this is not only sharing electricity with our neighbors, it is also creating jobs for them through the construction and maintenance of the grid. When electricity is available, it will be a better life for the households and better opportunities of education and creation of small businesses.”

The construction contract was signed by Yemen LNG General Manager, François Rafin and the Director of PARE in Shabwah, Mr. Abdullah Al-Agi, in the presence of Governor of Shabwah, Dr. Ali Al-Ahmadi, representatives from the Ministry of Oil and Minerals, and representatives from Rudhoom District Authority and the local communities.