Yemen political struggle causes problems for energy sector

The seizure of power by Houthi fighters leaves the country and its energy sector close to collapse

Yemen's presence on the global energy scene has been fading for many years, but in 2015 there is a danger that it might disappear. The Houthi tribe’s seizure of the presidential palace in early February, after forcing President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi and his government out of office the previous month, seems set to add significantly to the instability that had already forced some oil and gas installations to scale back operations or even halt them. Yemen LNG in late January declared force majeure on deliveries from its 6.7 million tonnes a year capacity Balhaf plant, with some employees evacuated. Last December the Balhaf operator, France’s Total, received a threat from al-Qaida in the Arab