ADEN — The southern port city of Aden is grappling with an unprecedented electricity crisis after soldiers in the neighboring Abyan province detained dozens of fuel tankers carrying crude oil destined for power generation stations. 

The move, reportedly a protest over delayed salary payments, has triggered widespread blackouts and raised fears of a complete grid collapse.

According to local sources, more than 150 oil trucks were stopped in the Hassan area of Abyan late Tuesday by armed personnel demanding overdue wages. The blockade has prevented critical fuel supplies from reaching Aden’s main power plants, including the Al-Mansoura station, which has already shut down due to diesel shortages.

Electricity outages in Aden now exceed 21 hours per day, disrupting water distribution, hospital operations, and basic services. The city’s Electricity Administration has warned of an imminent “total blackout” if the fuel convoys are not released immediately.

Efforts by security authorities and local officials to negotiate with the protesting soldiers have so far failed to resolve the standoff. The administration has appealed to the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government for urgent intervention to secure the release of the detained tankers and resume fuel deliveries.

The crisis comes amid broader instability in Yemen’s energy sector, with crude oil pumping from key fields such as Safer and Al-Uqla also halted due to logistical and security challenges. The Petromasila station, a major supplier to Aden, has reportedly run out of fuel.

Prime Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak has approved emergency measures to address the situation, but officials warn that without immediate fuel access, Aden could plunge into prolonged darkness, exacerbating humanitarian conditions in the already fragile city.