Turkey Eyes Oil & Gas Exploration In Bulgaria, Iraq And Libya
Turkey is currently in talks to explore for oil and gas in Bulgaria, with similar plans for exploration in Iraq and Libya, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has revealed.
According to the minister, state-owned energy company Turkiye Petrolleri AO (TPAO) will sign an agreement with an unnamed foreign partner within the next month to conduct exploration in Bulgaria’s section of the Black Sea.
Turkey not only wants to boost domestic oil and gas production, but also harbors ambitions to become a regional energy hub. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has been trying to position Turkey as an energy hub, connecting natural gas producers to its east and south with markets to the west. The country’s strategic geographical position and infrastructure give it an advantage in this regard.
Turkey and Bulgaria signed a deal in 2023 to permit Bulgaria’s state-owned Bulgargaz to import 1.85 billion cubic meters of gas per year– good for ~60% of Bulgaria’s annual demand–through the Strandzha-Malkoclar interconnection border point with Turkey.
Bulgargaz has to pay a €2 billion service fee to Turkish gas firm Bota? over a 13-year period, regardless of whether it makes use of this capacity. According to Bayraktar, the capacity to export via Bulgaria right now is only around 3.5 billion cubic meters a year but capabilities can be boosted.
“What we need is an increase in the capacity of the interconnection between Turkey and Bulgaria”, which currently can only receive about half of the amount of seven billion cubic meters per year that, from a technical point of view, Turkey can provide it,” Bayraktar told Bloomberg.
But Libya is probably Erdogan’s biggest gamble, that is just as much about power and influence as it is about energy.
After more than a decade of instability, Libya is expanding oil production, despite extreme political fragility that has analysts increasingly worried about a return to civil war.
According to Chairman of Libya’s National Oil Corporation Masoud Sulaiman, Libya plans to increase oil output from 1.4 mb/d currently to 2 mb/d in 2028. However, ramping output to that level will require considerable capital outlays: Abdulsadek estimates that Libya needs between $3 billion and $4 billion to reach its intermediate goal of oil production rate of 1.6 mb/d, adding that a new license bidding round is expected to be approved by the cabinet.
The Libyan economy relies heavily on oil, with fossil fuels accounting for more than 95% of its economic output.
Last year, Turkey announced that it was prepared to significantly increase natural gas exports to the European Union, desperate to further wean itself off Russian gas. In order to do that, the most likely route is to re-export Azeri natural gas from Turkey. That, in turn, would require Turkey to take in more Russian gas to make up for the shortfall.
Ankara is keen to play the role of savior and boost its leverage with respect to Brussels, but it wants some demand guarantees before it starts spending on the necessary infrastructure.
The Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline, which forms part of the Southern Gas Corridor bringing Azerbaijani gas to Europe, is a strategic advantage for Turkey. The country is also home to five LNG terminals, seven gas pipelines, three floating storage units, and two underground storage facilities, as well as considerable excess import capacity that could be used for trading.
On the other hand, over the past couple of years, Europe has been trying to secure alternative gas supplies to replace Russian gas transiting through Ukraine. Russian gas stopped flowing to EU states via Ukraine after a five-year deal expired on January 1 2025, marking the end of a decades-long arrangement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that his country would not allow Russia to “earn additional billions on our blood”, with a cross-section of leaders describing it as yet”another victory” against Moscow.
Russia can still send gas to Hungary, Turkey and Serbia through the TurkStream pipeline across the Black Sea. Azerbaijan’s natural gas sold to Turkey could be re-exported to Europe, possibly through Bulgaria, but not without effort and expense.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Bayraktar pushed hard for a Bulgaria route, noting a potential for increasing volumes to the EU up to 10 billion cubic meters per year, while sending a clear message to Brussels: It won’t happen without some demand guarantees.
Turkey’s ambitions to become a leading energy hub in Europe also gathered momentum after the sudden collapse of the 54-year Assad dynasty in Syria.
Turkish companies are well-placed to secure major contracts should Syria transform into a free market, with the cost of reconstruction estimated at $400 billion.
Turkey could construct a gas pipeline to the west of Syria and connect to the Arab Gas Pipeline network (which links Syria, Jordan, and Egypt).
This would help Turkey to offer regional gas producers such as Israel and Egypt a more commercially viable route to European markets compared to current LNG alternatives.
Source: Oilprice.com
Ghana: Cabinet Approves Private Sector Participation In ECG, NEDCo…Says Finance Minister
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, has revealed that the cabinet has approved the proposed private sector participation in the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
The Finance Minister, currently leading a Ghanaian delegation at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., disclosed this on his social media page X formerly Twitter after a session on the Ghana Energy Compact.
“We have submitted the Legislative Instrument to Parliament to enable competitive procurement for power plants. These are critical steps toward bringing transparency and sustainability to the sector,” Dr. Forson stated.
“The Energy Compact has come at the right time. It has the potential to make a lasting impact, and we are hopeful that the process will not be delayed. Time is of the essence. We must act swiftly to turn this around for the good of our economy and the well-being of our people.”
The Minister did not disclose which of the three options proposed by the Technical Committee, constituted by Energy Minister Dr. Abdulai Jinapor, was endorsed by Cabinet.
The committee’s report, submitted on April 2, 2025, highlighted three options for consideration: Entity Concession, Multiple Lease, and Service Franchise.
Ghana’s power sector is saddled with a $2 billion debt, which has become a concern for the current administration.
Dr. Forson emphasized that Ghana’s energy sector is currently the biggest economic risk the country faces.
“This challenge goes beyond tariffs. The entire energy value chain requires urgent reform. Inefficiencies, especially in the distribution sector, are being passed onto the ordinary Ghanaian through high tariffs. ECG alone could cut the shortfall by half if it addresses these inefficiencies,” he said.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Europe Set To Shatter Solar Power Generation Records
Solar power generation in Europe is set for a record year, if first-quarter solar output is anything to go by.
Electricity generation from solar power farms jumped by 32% in January to March this year compared to the same period of 2024, according to data from Ember cited by Reuters market analyst Gavin Maguire.
All key solar markets in Europe saw solar power gaining record-high shares of the electricity mix, the data showed. These include Germany, France, Greece, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Poland.
In March alone, solar power farms represented 8.2% of Europe’s utility-supplied electricity. This was higher than the 6% share in the same month of 2024. The increase in solar’s share suggests that a growing part of Europe’s power mix now comes from renewable energy sources.
The trend became evident last year, when solar power overtook coal generation in the European Union. Solar power generation accounted for 11% of EU electricity and coal fell below 10% for the first time ever, data from clean energy think tank Ember showed.
Outside the EU, solar power hit in early April a new maximum solar generation record in the UK. Already this year multiple records for maximum solar generation have been set in March and April, with the latest record standing at 12.68 gigawatts (GW), the UK’s National Energy System Operator (NESO) said last week.
This is greater than Britain’s total import capability across the European interconnectors, the system operator added.
While solar output is breaking records across major European markets, wind power generation faltered at the end of 2024 and early 2025 amid low wind speeds.
For example, the lower wind power generation, Germany’s largest source of electricity, has extended from the end of 2024 to the early weeks of 2025, too.
As a result, Germany’s power producers this winter boosted fossil fuel generation, with coal and natural gas power plants raising their electricity output.
Source:Oilprice.com
Nigeria: Mainstream Energy Restores Kainji Unit 1G9 Online
Power China Huandong, a leading power design and construction company, has officially handed over the rehabilitated 80MW generating unit 1G9 of Kainji Hydropower to Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (MESL).
This marks a significant milestone in Mainstream Energy Solutions Capacity Recovery initiative.
In 2021, MESL signed a contract with Power China Huadong Engineering Corporation for rehabilitation works at the Kainji Hydropower Plant.
The contract covered the rehabilitation of the Unit 1G9 (80MW) and the installation of units 1G3 and 1G4 (110MW).
In a statement announcing the completion of the rehabilitation of 1G9, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited mentioned that following a successful rehabilitation and rigorous 30-day statutory run for testing and commissioning, this critical unit out since 2016, has commenced commercial operations, injecting much-needed power into the national grid.
“The Management of Mainstream is immensely proud to have restored this unit, reaffirming our commitment to Nigeria’s energy security and access,” the statement said.
Continuing, the company said, “As we continue to push forward with our Capacity Expansion Plan, we excitedly anticipate the bringing online in the year 2026, units 1G3 and 1G4, each generating 110MW.”
The company is optimistic that this will further bolster the nation’s developmental aspirations, illuminating homes and empowering small-scale industries.
“We remain hopeful that these efforts will be supported by effective transmission and distribution.”
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
In a statement announcing the completion of the rehabilitation of 1G9, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited mentioned that following a successful rehabilitation and rigorous 30-day statutory run for testing and commissioning, this critical unit out since 2016, has commenced commercial operations, injecting much-needed power into the national grid.
“The Management of Mainstream is immensely proud to have restored this unit, reaffirming our commitment to Nigeria’s energy security and access,” the statement said.
Continuing, the company said, “As we continue to push forward with our Capacity Expansion Plan, we excitedly anticipate the bringing online in the year 2026, units 1G3 and 1G4, each generating 110MW.”
The company is optimistic that this will further bolster the nation’s developmental aspirations, illuminating homes and empowering small-scale industries.
“We remain hopeful that these efforts will be supported by effective transmission and distribution.”
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com Ghana: COMAC, RTI Commission Discuss Transparency And Accountability Within The Petroleum Downstream Sector
The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), led by Board Chairman, Mr Gabriel Kumi, paid a courtesy visit to the Right to Information (RTI) Commission last Thursday, April 17, 2025.
The visit aimed at fostering transparency and accountability in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.
With him were Dr Riverson Oppong (Industry Coordinator/CEO), Samuel Wristberg and Adjoa Baah, Esq.
The engagement was held with Genevieve Shirley Lartey, Esq., the Executive Secretary of the RTI Commission, Nana Kwame Duah (RTI Board member), and Stephen Owusu, Esq.
Discussions centered on improving access to accurate and timely industry information from regulators, promoting open governance and transparency in downstream operations and establishing joint capacity-building initiatives on RTI compliance.
The meeting also explored developing secure and lawful frameworks for data sharing between COMAC, regulators and the public in line with the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989).
The engagement reaffirmed COMAC’s commitment to promoting transparency and information accessibility within the petroleum downstream sector.
“We appreciate the meaningful dialogue and shared vision with the RTI Commission, and we look forward to building a collaborative path that strengthens transparency, empowers citizens and supports a business-friendly environment in the petroleum downstream industry,” COMAC said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The engagement reaffirmed COMAC’s commitment to promoting transparency and information accessibility within the petroleum downstream sector.
“We appreciate the meaningful dialogue and shared vision with the RTI Commission, and we look forward to building a collaborative path that strengthens transparency, empowers citizens and supports a business-friendly environment in the petroleum downstream industry,” COMAC said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Nigeria: Kaduna Electric Pledges Improved Power Supply In Kebbi State
Kaduna Electric, one of the power distribution companies (DisCos) in Nigeria, has welcomed the formation of a committee to address persistent power outages and concerns about the company’s performance by the Kebbi State Government.
According to the company, this initiative is an opportunity to collaboratively identify systemic challenges and implement lasting solutions for better electricity services in the state.
Kaduna Electric expresses gratitude for the Kebbi State Government’s ongoing partnership in strengthening power infrastructure, network enhancement, and maintenance, particularly in Birnin Kebbi and environs, as it aims to optimize these assets for improved grid performance.
In a statement issued by Abdulazeez Abdullahi, Head of Corporate Communications at Kaduna Electric, the company highlighted the systemic hurdles impacting service delivery, including the historical low revenue collection despite Kebbi State previously receiving 20-hour daily supply.
“Between September 2024 and February 2025, for instance, energy worth over ₦10 billion was supplied, yet less than ₦3 billion was recovered, with technical and commercial (ATC&C) losses of over 75%,” the statement said.
“External challenges such as grid instability, a fire incident at a Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) station, and ageing infrastructure have further strained supply,” it added.
To address these issues, the company has outlined measures already underway, including securing commercial/industrial clients, customer outreach, revenue protection drives, and network rehabilitation.
Kaduna Electric commends the state’s support in this regard for effective infrastructure optimization, noting recent progress in stabilizing supply and adhering to feeder banding commitments.
In the coming weeks, the company will launch a statewide engagement campaign in Kebbi, partnering with community leaders, traditional institutions, and consumer groups to foster dialogue, align expectations, and promote shared responsibility in service improvement.
The company reaffirmed its dedication to collaborating with the new committee, the state government, and residents to resolve existing gaps and rebuild trust in the power sector.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Joy FM’s Emefa Apawu Appointed Communications Manager For PHDC
Broadcast Journalist Emefa Apawu has resigned from Accra-based Multi Media Group and taken up a new role as the Corporate Communications Manager at the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC).
According to sources familiar with her appointment, she started work in March 2025.
Emefa is one of the captivating female voices on Ghana’s airwaves.
Prior to her departure from radio, she was Joy FM’s news anchor for midday news and host of ‘The Probe’ on Joy News channel.
The passion, love and energy with which she presented the news was loved by many and listeners of Joy News and The Probe will indeed miss her.
Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC) is a private sector-led initiative spearheaded by the immediate past Akufo-Addo administration to make Ghana the petroleum hub in West Africa.
Before leaving office, the NPP government had secured a 20,000-acre land for the project and signed a $12 billion-deal with TCP-UIC Consortium which comprises Touchstone Capital Group Holdings Ltd., UIC Energy Ghana Ltd., China Wuhan Engineering Co. Ltd., and China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Co. Ltd for the development of the first phase of the Petroleum Hub project in the Jomoro Municipal Area in the Western.
The petroleum hub would have four refineries with a total capacity of 600,000bpd, with each having a capacity of 150,000bpd.
The West African nation established its first crude oil processing refinery, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Limited, in 1963, to enhance the country’s economic, investment and development programmes.
Since then, Ghana has not been able to establish any additional oil refinery despite producing oil in commercial quantities from its jubilee oil fields.
TOR, which has a total capacity of 45,000bpd, has been left to struggle by successive governments.
The petroleum hub project will have, among other facilities, storage tanks for crude and finished products, two oil jetties, two petrochemical plants with processing capacity of 45,000bpsd each, as well as waste and water treatment plants.
It is estimated that 780,000 jobs would be created when the project commences and is completed.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Cable Thief Electrocuted At Kumasi Substation
A shocking incident occurred at the Adoato Substation ‘B’ of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in Kumasi, Ashanti region, as the lifeless body of a middle-aged man, suspected of being a cable thief, was discovered on Saturday morning.
Reports suggest that the suspect had one hand clinging to a high-voltage copper cable and a pair of pliers in the other.
Briefing the media, Ing. Peter Kofi Fletcher, General Manager of Ashanti Sub-Station, narrated that the deceased gained access to the substation undetected by security personnel.
The incident has caused significant damage, with several communities plunging into darkness due to destroyed cables. This is the second time in four months that cable thieves have invaded the premises.
Ing. Fletcher expressed concerns about the cost associated with cable cuts, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures.
“The cost of replacement can be very high, especially when customers are off, and we’re not selling,” he said.
Meanwhile, police have conveyed the body of the unidentified man to the mortuary while investigations continue.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
The incident has caused significant damage, with several communities plunging into darkness due to destroyed cables. This is the second time in four months that cable thieves have invaded the premises.
Ing. Fletcher expressed concerns about the cost associated with cable cuts, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures.
“The cost of replacement can be very high, especially when customers are off, and we’re not selling,” he said.
Meanwhile, police have conveyed the body of the unidentified man to the mortuary while investigations continue.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com Ghana: Petrosol Rewards Loyal Customers In Northern Sector With Suzuki S-Presso, Other Gifts
Petrosol Platinum Energy Ltd, one of the leading energy companies in the Republic of Ghana, has concluded the Northern Sector Edition of its highly successful “Energizing Dreams” promo.
The grand finale event saw 29 lucky customers win exciting prizes, including a brand new Suzuki S-Presso, tricycles, motorcycles, fridges, TVs, microwaves, and fuel coupons.
The Energizing Dreams promo, which began in October 2024, is part of PETROSOL’s 10th-anniversary celebration aimed at showing appreciation to customers for their loyalty and support over the past decade. The promo featured an assortment of prizes carefully selected to excite and empower customers.
A customer from the PETROSOL Akom Fuel Station won the grand prize, a brand new Suzuki S-Presso.
Upon hearing the news, Popular was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.
Guest of Honour, Mr. Duncan Amoah, Executive Secretary of COPEC, expressed gratitude to PETROSOL for providing clean fuel and rewarding customers.
“It is heartwarming to see a company go above and beyond to show appreciation to its customers,” he said.
PETROSOL’s CEO, Michael Bozumbil, assured customers that the company is committed to delivering great products and services, as well as rewarding loyalty. “We value our customers’ trust and loyalty, and we’re excited about the future of energy in Ghana,” he said.
The promo was conducted in partnership with the National Lottery Authority (NLA) to ensure transparency. Duncan Amoah praised the manner in which the promo was conducted, saying it was worth emulating.
The grand finale for the southern sector will take place on April 29, 2025, at PETROSOL’s ISO-certified Spintex Fuel Station.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
A customer from the PETROSOL Akom Fuel Station won the grand prize, a brand new Suzuki S-Presso.
Upon hearing the news, Popular was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.
Guest of Honour, Mr. Duncan Amoah, Executive Secretary of COPEC, expressed gratitude to PETROSOL for providing clean fuel and rewarding customers.
“It is heartwarming to see a company go above and beyond to show appreciation to its customers,” he said.
PETROSOL’s CEO, Michael Bozumbil, assured customers that the company is committed to delivering great products and services, as well as rewarding loyalty. “We value our customers’ trust and loyalty, and we’re excited about the future of energy in Ghana,” he said.
The promo was conducted in partnership with the National Lottery Authority (NLA) to ensure transparency. Duncan Amoah praised the manner in which the promo was conducted, saying it was worth emulating.
The grand finale for the southern sector will take place on April 29, 2025, at PETROSOL’s ISO-certified Spintex Fuel Station.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Ghana: Power Outage In Parts Of Kumasi Will Be Resolved Soon -ECG Assures
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has attributed the power outage in parts of Kumasi to multiple cable faults at the Ridge Bulk Supply Point in Kumasi near Georgia Hotel.
The power distributor made this known in a statement on Friday, April 18, 2025.
ECG assured affected customers that its engineers are working diligently to rectify the fault and restore power supply.
“ECG regrets the inconvenience caused to the affected customers,” the company said.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Walcot Group, Angola’s ANPG Sign MoU To Bolster Trade
Nigeria-based energy company, Walcot Group, and Angolan National Agency for Petroleum, Gas, and Biofuels, ANPG, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU), on Production Sharing Contract, to bolster Nigeria-Angola bilateral cooperation.
The agreement was signed in Luanda, Angola by the founder and president of Walcot Group, Christopher Nwuabueze and the ANPG’s Executive Administrator, Alcides Andrade.
The deal is expected boost trade relations between the two countries in the oil and gas sector, according to Suleman Mohammed, Managing Director of Walcot Group in a statement issued on Sunday, April 13, 2025.
According to Mohammed, the agreement resulted from the company’s successful bid for three oil blocks within a competitive international licensing round.
He said the step would expand the organisation’s footprint across Africa’s high-potential energy basins.
Commenting President of Walcot Group, Christopher Nwabueze described the move as a transformative moment for Walcot Group, “As we deepen our presence in Africa’s energy landscape.
“We are excited to partner Angola’s government and the ANPG, to unlock the potential of these blocks, driving value for stakeholders and supporting regional energy security.
“The PSC entails Walcot Group will secure full operator-ship of Block CON-3 and Block CON-7 in the Lower Congo Basins with 100 per cent participation interest in both blocks.
“CON-3 spanned 723.37 km² with estimated prospective oil resources of 1.25 billion barrels, featuring Pre-salt and Post-salt structures.
“CON-7 covered 744.77 km² with estimated prospective oil resources that range from 710 million to 1.15 billion barrels, supported by rich source rocks and nearby commercial discoveries.”
Mr Nwabueze added that for block KON-13, Walcot Group would take a 10 per cent stake in the Kwanza Onshore Basin.
“This is alongside Angola National Oil Company Sonangol, Effimax Energy and Oando Energy Resources as operators with prospective resources ranging from 770 million to 1.1 billion barrels,” he said.
The Walcot boss said that Angola aimed to maintain its oil output at 1.1 million barrels per day by 2027 and double it in the long term.
He added that ANPG viewed Walcot partnership as a boost to its upstream ambitions.
“The Lower Congo and Kwanza Basins, known for their prolific geology, offer Walcot a prime opportunity to apply its technical expertise and sustainable practices.
“This will align with the company’s broader goal of fostering economic growth across the continent,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Congo-Brazzaville: Gov’t Postpones $9.4B Sounda Hydropower Project Amid Energy Crisis
Congo-Brazzaville has suspended the launch of its largest energy infrastructure project, the 600 MW Sounda hydroelectric dam, initially set to begin construction in January 2025.
According to a report by Daba Finance, citing Government spokesperson Thierry Moungalla, the $9.4 billion project has been put on hold indefinitely.
The dam was expected to nearly double Congo’s generation capacity, currently at 720 MW, much of which is lost due to outdated infrastructure.
According to reports, cities like Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire experience frequent power outages. The government has not disclosed the cause of the postponement.
Observers cite potential issues including funding delays, technical disagreements, and logistical hurdles.
The silence has fueled public concern amid worsening electricity shortages. The project, if completed, could reshape the country’s power sector and meet growing energy demand in urban areas.
For now, the delay underscores deeper governance challenges in major infrastructure execution.
Source:https://energynewsfrica.com
Ghana: PURC Board Chairman, Prof. Thomas Akabzaa, Passes Away
The Board Chairman of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Prof. Thomas Akabzaa, has passed away, according to sources close to him.
Reports indicate that he died on Thursday, although the cause of his death is not yet known.
Prof. Akabzaa was appointed as the PURC Board chairman, along with seven other board members.
However, he was absent when Chief of Staff Julius Debrah inaugurated the board on Friday, March 28, 2025.
Throughout his career, Prof. Akabzaa held various roles, including Chief Director at the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum. He was well known for championing transparency, sustainable development, and reforms in Ghana’s natural resource governance.
Reacting to the news, Dr. Steve Manteaw, policy analyst and co-chair of the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), paid a heartfelt tribute.
“Sad to hear about your demise this morning,” Dr. Manteaw wrote. “You’ve been a formidable pillar in the extractive industry space as an academic, activist, and a technocrat. May the good Lord guide you back to His bosom and grant you eternal rest. Farewell, Prof. Thomas Akabzaa.”
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
US Strikes On Yemen Oil Terminal Kill At Least 58, Houthis Say
US air strikes on a key oil terminal on Yemen’s Red Sea coast controlled by the Houthi movement have killed at least 58 people and wounded 126 others, Houthi-run media say.
The US military said it had destroyed Ras Issa “to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue”.
The Houthi-led government that runs north-western Yemen said the terminal was a civilian facility and that attack constituted a “full-fledged war crime”.
It was one of the deadliest incidents since President Donald Trump ordered US forces to intensify their bombing campaign last month in response to Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping and Israel linked to the Gaza war.
Several hours after the strikes on Ras Issa, the Israeli military said it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen.
Sirens sounded in several Israeli areas but there were no reports of any casualties or damage.
Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that 14 air strikes hit Ras Issa late on Thursday.
Videos posted online purportedly showed several explosions, large fires and destroyed fuel tankers at the facility, which is about 60km (35 miles) north of the Red Sea city of Hudaydah.
Al-Masirah cited local health authorities as saying many of the dead were workers at the facility. It also reported that five paramedics were killed in secondary US strikes as they arrived at the scene.
The casualty reports could not be immediately verified, but footage from Al-Masirah appeared to show at least 10 charred bodies near the burning tankers, including one driver, as well as men being treated for serious burns in hospital.
“We affirm that the targeting of the Ras Issa oil port is a full-fledged war crime, as the port is a civilian facility and not a military one,” the Houthi-run government said in a statement.
“We hold the US administration fully responsible for the consequences resulting from its escalation in the Red Sea,” it warned.
The US military’s Central Command said in a statement that the “objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen”.
“The Houthis, their Iranian masters, and those who knowingly aid and abet their terrorist actions should be put on notice that the world will not accept illicit smuggling of fuel and war material to a terrorist organisation,” it added.
Iran’s foreign ministry said it strongly condemned the strikes as “barbaric”.
On Thursday, the Houthis’ leader gave a defiant speech in which he claimed the recent US strikes failed to stop their attacks.
Abdul Malik al-Houthi said the group’s forces had carried out almost 80 operations involving around 170 missiles and drones since mid-March, including 30 attacks targeting the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman and 26 attacks on Israel.
Yemen has been devastated by a civil war that escalated 10 years ago, when the Houthis seized control of the country’s north-west from the internationally-recognised government and a Saudi-led coalition supported by the US intervened in an effort to restore its rule.
The fighting has reportedly left more than 150,000 people dead and triggered a humanitarian disaster, with 4.8 million people displaced and 19.5 million – half of the population – in need of some form of aid.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have targeted dozens of merchant vessels with missiles, drones and small boat attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They have sunk two vessels, seized a third, and killed four crew members.
The Houthis have said they are acting in support of the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and have claimed – often falsely – that they are targeting ships only linked to Israel, the US or the UK.
The Houthis were not deterred by the deployment of Western warships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to protect merchant vessels last year, or by multiple rounds of US strikes on military targets ordered by former President Joe Biden.
After taking office in January, Trump redesignated the Houthis as a “Foreign Terrorist Organisation” – something the Biden administration had removed due to what it said was the need to mitigate the country’s humanitarian crisis.
Last month, Trump ordered large-scale strikes on areas controlled by the Houthis and threatened that they would be “completely annihilated”. He has also warned Iran not to arm the group – something it has repeatedly denied doing.
Israel has also carried out air strikes against the Houthis since last July in retaliation for the hundreds of missiles and drones that the Israeli military says have been launched at the country from Yemen, most of which have been shot down.
Source: BBC.com
Al-Masirah cited local health authorities as saying many of the dead were workers at the facility. It also reported that five paramedics were killed in secondary US strikes as they arrived at the scene.
The casualty reports could not be immediately verified, but footage from Al-Masirah appeared to show at least 10 charred bodies near the burning tankers, including one driver, as well as men being treated for serious burns in hospital.
“We affirm that the targeting of the Ras Issa oil port is a full-fledged war crime, as the port is a civilian facility and not a military one,” the Houthi-run government said in a statement.
“We hold the US administration fully responsible for the consequences resulting from its escalation in the Red Sea,” it warned.
The US military’s Central Command said in a statement that the “objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen”.
“The Houthis, their Iranian masters, and those who knowingly aid and abet their terrorist actions should be put on notice that the world will not accept illicit smuggling of fuel and war material to a terrorist organisation,” it added.
Iran’s foreign ministry said it strongly condemned the strikes as “barbaric”.
On Thursday, the Houthis’ leader gave a defiant speech in which he claimed the recent US strikes failed to stop their attacks.
Abdul Malik al-Houthi said the group’s forces had carried out almost 80 operations involving around 170 missiles and drones since mid-March, including 30 attacks targeting the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman and 26 attacks on Israel.
Yemen has been devastated by a civil war that escalated 10 years ago, when the Houthis seized control of the country’s north-west from the internationally-recognised government and a Saudi-led coalition supported by the US intervened in an effort to restore its rule.
The fighting has reportedly left more than 150,000 people dead and triggered a humanitarian disaster, with 4.8 million people displaced and 19.5 million – half of the population – in need of some form of aid.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have targeted dozens of merchant vessels with missiles, drones and small boat attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They have sunk two vessels, seized a third, and killed four crew members.
The Houthis have said they are acting in support of the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and have claimed – often falsely – that they are targeting ships only linked to Israel, the US or the UK.
The Houthis were not deterred by the deployment of Western warships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to protect merchant vessels last year, or by multiple rounds of US strikes on military targets ordered by former President Joe Biden.
After taking office in January, Trump redesignated the Houthis as a “Foreign Terrorist Organisation” – something the Biden administration had removed due to what it said was the need to mitigate the country’s humanitarian crisis.
Last month, Trump ordered large-scale strikes on areas controlled by the Houthis and threatened that they would be “completely annihilated”. He has also warned Iran not to arm the group – something it has repeatedly denied doing.
Israel has also carried out air strikes against the Houthis since last July in retaliation for the hundreds of missiles and drones that the Israeli military says have been launched at the country from Yemen, most of which have been shot down.
Source: BBC.com