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November 3, 2007

Yemen - $15-billion deal for 5 n-plants cancelled because Ministry of Electricity and Energy ignored request for information about the deal by new anti-corruption agency

Recently, Yemen's Ministry of Electricity and Energy signed a $15-billion agreement with American-based Powered Corporation to establish five nuclear reactors in Yemen. Powered Corporation was scheduled to start a $3 million feasibility study during the first half of next year with co-financing from the Yemeni government. In a previous statement the Ministry of Electricity and Energy indicated that if Powered Corporation were proven to be unfit to complete the project, the deal would be nullified. However fit or unfit the company may be is somewhat moot, because the government has cancelled the agreement. A newly established agency in Yemen asked for, but did not receive, documents regarding the deal. The new agency -- the Supreme National Anti-Corruption Authority (SNACA) -- thus asked Prime Minister Mujawar to cancel the contract. The chairman of SNACA's investigation department, Ahmed al-Anesi, expressed his surprise that the ministry had not provided all the documents regarding the deal. Al-Anesi said that Prime Minister Mujawar confirmed the government's commitment to following legislation and the political processes in a letter sent to SNACA and said that experts would be involved in any future agreements to ensure that they were completely valid.   Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr. Mustafa Bahram said that he hoped work on a feasibility study would begin soon to select appropriate sites, and explore the technical and economic aspects of establishing a nuclear plant in Yemen.