Dr. Mohammed Bamqaa, Yemeni Minister of Oil and Minerals, affirmed readiness to restore the operational status, noting that the previous halt in oil exports disrupted government work, salary payments, and led to poor services.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Bamqaa revealed an urgent meeting with security and military authorities assigned by Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, and the contracting company, and a security plan was developed for this purpose to deal with security threats, especially from the Houthis in Bab al-Mandab.

In a related context, the minister noted that since the moment President Al-Alimi announced the resumption of oil exports, discussions have continued, resulting in a meeting of the Supreme Committee for the Sale and Marketing of Crude Oil chaired by Dr. Shaea Al-Zindani, Prime Minister and General Supervisor, and a timed executive mechanism was approved to accomplish this. He added: 'For our part in the ministry, we have directed holding meetings with all relevant units, institutions, and national and foreign companies participating with the state to develop urgent plans covering all technical, financial and administrative aspects, and teams are working on that.'

Bamqaa indicated that the Ministry of Oil and Minerals confirms its technical readiness and is working to restore the operational status, explaining that the operational status is 'a technical procedure in the oil industry when facilities are shut down for a long time, whereby pipelines are emptied.' He added: 'We are currently working to reactivate them, and we are ready to start exports as soon as we receive an official notice from the agreed company in the coming days.'

Regarding the revenues and expected impact on the state budget, Bamqaa said: 'We sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance with the expected revenues to be used to improve the level of essential services and pay salaries of employees in the republic regularly.' He added: 'The suspension of oil and gas exports affected government performance, disrupted salary payments, and contributed to the government's deficit and low level of services, in addition to the suspension of some services.' He also noted Saudi Arabia's contribution, saying: 'The brothers in Saudi Arabia, through the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen headed by General Supervisor Ambassador Mohammed Al Jaber, and based on the directives of the Kingdom's leadership represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, provided financial support that was a lifeline to continue paying salaries and supporting electricity stations' fuel derivatives.' He continued: 'For these reasons, the decision to resume exports is important and a national necessity to preserve state institutions.'

Oil refinery in Yemen (Archive - Reuters)

Regarding his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, the minister confirmed full readiness for the visit once its date is set by higher authorities. He pointed to continuous work on all aspects and permanent coordination with all relevant government agencies under the direct supervision of Prime Minister Dr. Shaea Al-Zindani. He added that all relevant units, departments, and administrations in the Ministry of Oil and Minerals have been directed to raise maximum readiness and accomplish the necessary tasks, each in their respective area.

Yemeni oil exports have been almost completely halted since October 2022 due to Houthi attacks on export ports (Al-Dhaba and Al-Nashima) in Hadramout and Shabwa governorates, depriving the Yemeni government of its main revenue source, which constitutes about 70 percent of the budget.