Mukalla (South24 Center) 

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PetroMasila Company announced on Monday (December 1) a complete suspension of production and refining operations at its facilities and fields in Sector 14 since Saturday, November 29, due to deteriorating security conditions surrounding the oil installations.

In a statement, the company said this decision was taken in compliance with safety standards in the oil industry and to preserve the lives of workers and neighboring communities, following armed attacks threatening catastrophic risks to petroleum and gas materials. 

The company said that it had maintained minimal production in Sector 10 over recent days to supply operational gas to the Wadi Hadramout Gas Plant and Al-Jazeera Plant, before being forced to halt operations on Sunday evening (November 30) after storage tanks reached full capacity and it became impossible to pump oil to Sector 14 due to the security situation.

PetroMasila indicated that the halt in gas pumping led to a gradual shutdown of gas facilities and the power plant, expressing regret for the impact on residents’ lives and affirming its hope for the restoration of security and stability in the governorate.

Simultaneously, Wadi Hadramout Electricity Corporation announced that the power system has almost completely shut down following the interruption of gas supplies from PetroMasila Company, noting that over 85% of generating capacity has ceased operations.

The corporation stated that technical teams remain "on standby" to resume operations as soon as supplies are restored, without clarifying the reasons for the gas disruption or the timeline for resuming pumping.

This development comes amid escalating tensions in Hadramout. The Second Military Region announced that company protection forces and PetroMasila facilities were attacked, according to its November 29 statement, by "armed" groups affiliated with Sheikh Amr bin Habrish, head of the Hadramout Tribal Alliance who was recently removed.

The command warned of the danger of escalation affecting facilities, considered among the country's most vital assets, deeming such actions as "threatening Hadramout's security and harming the national economy."

The Second Military Region confirmed its intent to take strict measures to protect oil fields, calling for disputes to be resolved through peaceful means and urging citizens to unite in preserving the governorate's stability during this sensitive phase.

In a related context, the Hadramout Public Prosecution issued compulsory arrest warrants on November 29 against Sheikh Amr bin Habrish and "Hadramout Protection Forces" commander Mubarak Al-Awbathani on charges related to committing acts punishable by law.

As the crisis continued to broaden and draw in additional actors, former AQAP leader Riyadh al-Nahdi (Abu Omar al-Nahdi) called for standing with Bin Habrish and what he described as “defending Hadramout.”

Al-Nahdi had previously announced, last March, a new group in Wadi Hadramout called “Change and Freedom,” whose launch ceremony was attended by former al-Qaeda members.