Yemen's export gas pipeline blown up by al-Qaida suspects

English: Map showing the location of the Gulf of Aden, located between Yemen and Somalia. Nearby bodies of water include the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Gunmen suspected of belonging to the al-Qaida terrorist group blew up a gas pipeline that transfers Yemen's liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the Belhaf export terminal in the south early Tuesday, a security official told Xinhua.

The main pipeline, which transports supplies of gas to Yemen's Belhaf export terminal in the Gulf of Aden, was bombed by a squad of al-Qaida assailants in Safir oil-fields in eastern Maarib province, the local security official said on condition of anonymity.

Improvised explosive devices and remote-controlled bombs exploded underneath the gas pipeline in the oil-producing Maarib province, causing a huge explosion at the area, the security official said.

Tuesday's bombing comes days after the pipeline was repaired following a previous attack that occurred in neighboring Shabwa province.

On Saturday, Yemen LNG had announced that the pipeline had been repaired after an armed attack by al-Qaida suspects in August.

The 320-km pipeline, linking oil-producing Marib province to Belhaf LNG export facility in Yemen's restive south, has been repeatedly targeted by al-Qaida operatives.

Oil revenues make up more than 70 percent of the state budget, while oil and gas products account for over 90 percent of Yemen's exports.

Yemen's oil production rapidly declined from more than 400,000 barrels per day at the beginning of the past decade to the current 270,000 barrels per day.

Despite the army reinforcements and high security measures at the country's oil projects, al-Qaida militants have attacked the main LNG pipeline several times in recent months.


from XINHUA
2012-09-04 16:46:14

Posted in: ADEN, al-Qaida, alqaeda, Gulf of Aden, Marib, Shabwah Governorate, Yemen