Abyan (South24 Center)

Authorities on Wednesday (December 24) laid the foundation stone for a 30-megawatt solar power plant project in Abyan governorate, with funding and support from the United Arab Emirates, according to official sources.

The foundation-laying ceremony was attended by Aidrous Al-Zubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council and a member of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, the Minister of Electricity, and a delegation from the UAE, and

The project aims to improve electricity supply in the governorate, which has been experiencing chronic power outages and a deterioration in basic services.

The Abyan project comes a day after authorities laid the foundation stones for two UAE-funded solar power projects in Lahj and Al-Dhalea governorates on Tuesday (December 23), with a combined capacity of 30 megawatts, including a 10 MW plant in Al-Dhalea and a 20 MW plant in Al-Houta city, Lahj governorate.

These initiatives form part of a broader series of UAE-supported energy projects in South Yemen, including the operation of a 120 MW solar power plant in the capital, Aden, in July 2024, and another plant with a capacity of 53 MW in Shabwa, which was inaugurated on August 28. Authorities have also recently announced the start of a second expansion phase of the Aden plant to add an additional 120 MW.

During the visit, Al-Zubaidi also toured Hassan Dam in Abyan, a UAE-funded project, where he was briefed on its expected impact on the agricultural sector in the governorate.

 Read more: Hassan Dam Promises to Change the Face of Agriculture in Abyan Delta

Earlier, Aden hosted the National Sustainable Energy Conference on November 26, which discussed structural reforms in the electricity sector amid declining state revenues. During the conference, a multi-phase plan to reduce power outages was announced, alongside an Emirati pledge to provide up to $1 billion to support renewable energy projects in areas under the control of the internationally recognized government.

The projects are seen as part of ongoing efforts to address the electricity crisis and improve service stability in conflict-affected areas of South Yemen.