LNG Carrier loads LNG at Balhaf 24 hours after pipeline sabotage

By Abdul-Aziz Oudah

Source: Yemen Observer

The LNG Carrier Seri Balhaf was loading an Indian-bound LNG cargo this Sunday morning at the Yemen LNG Balhaf terminal on the Gulf of Aden 24 hours after the sabotage of the gas pipeline, stated a press release on October 16 , 2011. 

The expatriate and Yemeni personnel stayed safe and secure on the Block 18 fields where the gas is produced and at the Balhaf terminal where it is liquefied. No evacuation was considered.

The gas pipeline was sabotaged with explosives at 00h30 on 15th October at 75 KM to the north of Balhaf. There was no revendication.

The block valves every 30 km of the pipeline were closed shortly after the incident and the damaged section was fully depressurized. The gas fire rapidly ceased. No victim was to deplore as the incident occurred in the desert.

Yemen LNG now mobilizes to site its emergency pipeline repair system. Meanwhile the works of the annual maintenance shutdown at Balhaf, initially scheduled to start on 23 October, have started one week ahead of time. This should mitigate the loss of LNG production arising from the pipeline sabotage.

Yemen LNG Company enjoyed an exceptional reliability so far this year, with only two days of shutdown. In spite of the pipeline sabotage yesterday, the Company still expects to achieve a reliability above average on the whole year 2011.