Oil pipeline bombed by gunmen in southeast Yemen

Source :  Xinhua | English.news.cn

ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- An armed group blasted an oil pipeline Saturday in Yemen's restive southeastern province of Shabwa, as part of a string of explosions targeting the energy sector in Yemen, a government official told Xinhua.

The armed group blew up the pipeline that transfers Yemen's liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the Gulf of Aden export terminal, in the area of Rudhum in Shabwa province, the local government said on condition of anonymity.

The huge blast, which is the latest in a series of explosions during the past few months, disrupted oil flows, the government source said.

Local residents said they saw fire following the pipeline bombing.

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-Qaid militants have attacked the main LNG pipeline several times in recent months.