Women's groups and activists in Aden have called for protests next Thursday, June 4, 2026, to demonstrate against the ongoing electricity crisis, despite a recent Saudi announcement of new fuel support for power generation.
The planned demonstration, organized via social media, is set to take place at Al-Arud Square in the Khormaksar district. This action comes as Aden experiences severe electricity outages, with the service operating on a schedule of only two hours of power followed by eight hours of darkness, exacerbating the impact of rising summer temperatures.
The deteriorating electricity situation in Aden persists concurrently with the recent announcement by Saudi Ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al-Jaber, detailing Riyadh's provision of $150 million in urgent fuel derivatives to the Yemeni government. This support is intended to cover the operational needs of power stations across various Yemeni governorates.
However, Nawar Abkar, spokesperson for the Aden Electricity Corporation, stated that this new aid will not significantly improve the service. He emphasized that Aden requires crude oil for increased generation capacity and reduced outage hours. Abkar noted in a Facebook post to the Saudi side that the previous fuel support provided in January had not resulted in noticeable improvements, questioning the impact of the aid given the persistent daily power cuts.
Abkar further explained that tangible improvements for citizens in Aden and neighboring regions are contingent upon the full operational capacity of the Al-Masila power station, referred to as the "Presidential Station." He indicated that this requires ensuring the station receives sufficient crude oil, a matter that is reportedly obstructed by the stance of Salem Al-Khanbashi, a member of the Presidential Leadership Council and Governor of Hadramaut. Sources within the Aden Electricity Corporation confirm that the Presidential Station is currently operating at only 100 megawatts, receiving approximately 4,000 barrels of oil daily from Hadramaut, Shabwah, and Marib.
These sources indicate that the station requires an additional 6,000 barrels of oil daily from the reserves at the Al-Dabbah facility in Hadramaut, which holds around 3 million barrels stored since the cessation of exports following Houthi attacks in late 2022. Operating at its full capacity of 260 megawatts would halve the current 8-hour daily outages to 4 hours. This enhancement is reportedly being blocked by Governor Al-Khanbashi's demand for a $20 per barrel fee from the government.
Abkar concluded his message by warning of a further decline in electricity services during the peak summer months, predicting that demand could reach 750 megawatts. He questioned the implications for an already strained service, stating, "If electricity is currently cutting out for 8 to 10 hours a day, and the loads do not exceed 650 megawatts, what will happen when it reaches 750 megawatts?!"
