Tribal members in Hadramout blocked roads in protest of unpaid public sector wages, the province's share of oil sales
Canadian gas company Calvalley Petroleum has suspended its operations and exploration in Yemen's Hadramout province over security concerns, according to a report.
The company confirmed a Jan. 17 notice to staff and contractors stating the suspension of activities in block 9, citing production and transportation disruption since Dec. 14 from checkpoints outside the company's gate and roadblocks, Reuters reported.
"The company will not be resuming its production and development operations until solutions are found to the deteriorating security conditions," the firm said in an emailed response to Reuters.
Previously, the Mary River Mine sent all Nunavummiut workers home after six employees tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after arriving on-site just before 2021 ended.
Tribal members in Hadramout in South Yemen had blocked roads. This is in protest of several issues, power outages, unpaid public sector wages and the province's share of oil sales, Reuters reported, citing a Jan. 25 letter by local authorities on Facebook.
Hadramout is under the control of the internationally-recognized government that is backed by a Saudi-led coalition. That coalition was the same one that intervened in March 2015 against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement that now largely controls the north.
Calvalley shut down work in 2015. The company resumed production in July 2019 in block 9. It launched a 3D seismic program for new exploration prospects in block 9, which contains total proven and probable reserves of around 42.2 million barrels, according to the firm.
Previously, Mark Little, CEO of Suncor, said that the company is committed to doing more to keep its workers safe.
