Aden Refinery remains unable to resume commercial oil refining

The Aden Refinery Company in southern Yemen has remained unable to perform its primary function of commercial crude oil refining for over a decade. While the facility maintains limited activity through asphalt production, storage services, and logistics, its core refining units have been inactive since 2015.

According to CEO Said Mohammed bin Mohammed, refining operations ceased due to the interruption of crude oil supplies from Marib and escalating technical issues. The refinery declared force majeure in April 2015 and sustained further damage during fighting in July of that year.

To cover operating expenses and staff salaries, the company has relied heavily on leasing storage tanks. Technical teams continue maintenance efforts to prevent excessive corrosion and ensure equipment can eventually be returned to service. However, significant obstacles remain, including an incomplete power plant, inconsistent funding, and unstable crude oil supplies. The facility, which opened in 1954, requires updated technical assessments to determine the requirements for modernizing its aging infrastructure.