UAE utility completes handover of solar power plants to Yemen govt

ABU DHABI - Abu Dhabi-based Global South Utilities (GSU) has completed the handover of two solar power plants in Yemen to the country's Public Electricity Corporation after Yemeni authorities requested the withdrawal of all Emirati companies from the country, the company said in a statement.

GSU informed the Public Electricity Corporation of the evacuation of all operations and maintenance teams from the Aden solar power plant, which has capacity of 120 megawatts (MW), and the 53 MW Shabwa solar power plant in a letter dated January 22, its statement said. "Global South Utilities did not suspend operations unilaterally or abruptly," GSU said. "Both power plants were handed over while operating at full technical capacity, under a formal handover process."

The United Arab Emirates pulled its remaining military forces out of Yemen at the end of last month after Saudi Arabia backed a call for UAE forces to leave within 24 hours, deepening a crisis between the two Gulf powers and oil producers. GSU had planned to establish a $1 billion energy project portfolio in Yemen, with combined capacity exceeding 1,000 MW, alongside plans for sustainable transmission and distribution infrastructure.

It said that several renewable energy projects under development in Yemen had been paused after its exit from the country. Owned by Resources Investment, an Abu Dhabi-based investment company, GSU is expanding its presence in Africa and Asia, with a focus on solar, wind and hybrid energy projects.