Aden (South24 Center)

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On Monday (January 26), operations were resumed at the UAE-backed solar power plants in Aden and Shabwa after stoppage of several days, according to informed sources who spoke to "South24 Center." 

The resumption of operations followed the return of technical teams from the Abu Dhabi-based operating company, whose departure had occurred due to a request from the Yemeni government.

The Aden Electricity Corporation, in a statement issued on behalf of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy on January 22, had claimed that the UAE-based operating company, "Global South Utilities" (GSU), shut down the Aden and Shabwa plants without prior coordination, asserting that it had not received any official correspondence explaining the reasons or duration of the shutdown.

Read more at: The Shabwa Solar Power Station Nears Completion

Read more at: Aden’s Solar Paradox: A Green Revolution Still Fueled by Diesel

Conversely, a memorandum issued by GSU dated the same day revealed that the evacuation of maintenance and operations teams from the 120-MW Aden plant and the 53-MW Shabwa plant was carried out following an official request by the Yemeni government for UAE companies to exit Yemeni territory. This came in the wake of tensions following the security and political developments in South Yemen. 

The GSU memo added that both plants were handed over at full operational capacity to the Public Electricity Corporation (PEC), represented by its director, Mujeeb Al-Shaabi.

Informed sources stated that the resumption of operations at the two solar plants occurred after days of stoppage, and confirmed that the UAE did not initiate the shutdown of the Aden, Shabwa, or Al-Mokha (Taiz) plants, contrary to what had been circulated.

The 120-MW Aden solar plant entered service in July 2024 with UAE support, while the 53-MW Shabwa plant was inaugurated on August 28, 2025, coinciding with the announcement of the second phase of the Aden plant’s expansion to increase its production capacity.

These developments come at a time when uncertainty still surrounds the fate of other UAE-backed solar energy projects in Yemen, which began implementation last December in the governorates of Lahj, Al-Dhalea, and Abyan, with a total capacity of 60 MW.

Read more at: Foundation Stone Laid for 30 MW Solar Power Plant in Abyan with UAE Funding

Read more at: Foundation Stone Laid for 30 MW Solar Power Plants in Lahj and Dhalea with Emirati Support

On December 24, 2025, the President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), Maj. Gen. Aidrous Al-Zubaidi laid the foundation stone for a 30-MW solar power plant project in Abyan Governorate with UAE support. 

This followed the laying of foundation stones a day earlier for two solar plants in Dhalea and Lahj governorates, with capacities of 10 MW in Al-Dhalea and 20 MW in Al-Houta, Lahj.

On November 26, Aden hosted the National Sustainable Energy Conference, during which a plan to reform the electricity sector in Yemen was announced, alongside a UAE pledge to provide funding of up to $1 billion to support renewable energy projects in governorates controlled by the internationally recognized government.