News - Yemen: An International company has acquired the energy assets of the Austrian company “OMV”, in one of the oil sectors in eastern Yemen, in an illegal deal valued at $21.6 million.

The “Associated Press” agency reported that the Dutch company “Zenith Netherlands” agreed to acquire the assets of the Austrian “OMV”, indicating that the deal is still awaiting the approval of the pro-aggression government, and Austria.

“The acquisition of OMV Yemen is a very important milestone for Zenith Energy,” said Zenith CEO Andrea Cattaneo, adding that the current production of assets is even more important. The Austrian company “OMV” owns the largest assets in the Al-aqla oil field in Shabwa Governorate, eastern Yemen.

"The field produced an average of six thousand barrels per day as of January 2022 due to a lack of drilling activities. This amount has decreased from about 15,000 barrels per day before the war on Yemen," the Dutch company's statement said.

Austria's OMV sold its stakes in two smaller fields in central Yemen, along with an estimated 571 billion cubic feet of recoverable gas, according to a Zenith statement. The Austrian OMV was one of the largest international energy companies still operating in Shabwa.

It announced in June that it would sell its assets in the country as part of its plans to reduce the classification of its oil activities after the Sana'a forces prevented, in early October, the looting of Yemen's crude oil.

The geological expert and consultant in the development of natural resources, Abdulghani Jagman, accused the pro-aggression government of Maeen Abdulmalik of selling eight barrels of crude oil for one dollar, while 90% of the people of Yemen are below the poverty line.

He indicated that the Dutch company also bought sectors “seven and three” in Shabwa, in addition to sector S2, considering that the pro-aggression government of Maeen Abdulmalik is working to sell the oil sectors to Yemen, in what he described as “selling the thief.”

The Austrian company “OMV” announced, in a statement at the end of last December, the layoff of its employees’ services.

Recently, Ministry of Oil and Minerals denounced what the Pro-US-Saudi aggression government had done by approving the sale of the oil sector (S2) Al-Aqla in Shabwa governorate, affiliated with the Austrian company OMV, the operator of the sector, to SPEC.

In a statement, the ministry confirmed, its categorical rejection of any measures taken through the Pro-US-Saudi government, whether by selling, waiving, or transferring any of the shares and rights owned by any contractor member in any sector.
It also affirmed its refusal to conduct any negotiations or receive the state's financial rights without official approval from the Ministry of Oil and Minerals in Sana'a, because these procedures are illegal and will not be accepted, and whoever violates that will bear the responsibility.

The statement indicated that this is not the first deal approved by the US-Saudi mercenaries, as it had previously agreed in 2021 to sell Kuwait Energy Company for its share in sector (5) and transfer the operation of the sector to Petromasila Company in violation.

The statement called on the international community and all international organizations to play their role in stopping the tampering with the wealth of the people of Yemen by the US-Saudi mercenaries.

The statement also called on the people of Yemen in all governorates to stand against this tampering and looting of their rights, wealth and capabilities. The ministry holds the US-Saudi mercenaries' government fully legally responsible for the complicity and looting of the wealth of the people of Yemen.