'Piracy' as Yemen fuel crisis surfaces

SANA'A, June 19 (Saba) - Surging piracy off Somalia has paralyzed
the movement of fuel tankers in Yemen, causing a grave fuel shortage
across the republic.

Long queues of cars have been seen even in the capital amid
insufficient diesel quantities at filling stations.

According to the Yemen General Corporation for Oil, Gas and Mineral
Resources, pirate attacks recently stepped up in the Gulf of Aden
have forced oil and gas tankers not to transport fuel from the Aden
refinery to distribution branches throughout the country.

Some people are taking advantage of the crisis filling fuel in extra
battles, helping the crisis worsen.

According to some petrol stations owners fuel supplies they get are
insufficient to meet the people's demand.

However, officials assured that the company in cooperation with the
Coast Guard and Navy are working the situation out, saying
appropriate measures are underway.

The outcomes would surface within twenty four hours.

On reported price hikes in oil derivatives, a source at the company
denied reports as baseless, saying the prices remain fixed.

Yemen has reported several fuel shortages this year, with violence
either by pirates or internal subversives mainly blamed in every
time.