A former Yemeni foreign minister said that France is preparing to secure the Balhaf facility in Yemen’s unstable Shabwah province for the export of gas.
“There are French “preparations being made to export gas from the Balhaf facility … in light of increased international gas prices,” and in an attempt to reduce Europe’s reliance on Russian fuel amid the global energy crisis exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine,” Abubakr Alqirbi tweeted on Tuesday.
تتوالى المعلومات حول تحضيرات تجري لتصدير الغاز من منشأة بلحاف وأنه قد يكون سبب احداث شبوة وتحرك فرنسا النشط وتفاوضها مع بعض دول الاقليم واطراف الصراع اليمنية لتصديره في ظل ارتفاع اسعار الغاز دوليا ولتخفيف الضغط الروسي على اوربا وتوفير الحماية للمنشاة عبر الفيلق الفرنسي الاجنبي
— Dr Abubaker Alqirbi. الدكتور ابوبكر القربي (@AAlqirbi) August 16, 2022
Alqirbi also suggested that the French move “could be the reason for events in Shabwah,” referring to recent clashes between UAE-backed mercenary groups and Islah Party forces affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and the Saudi-backed President Leadership Council (PLC).
According to local sources, the French forces arrived at the Balhaf LNG-producing facility, of which the French Total owns 39.62%, after agreeing with the UAE to resume gas production away from the so-called “legitimate government”.
