Abu Dhabi’s GSU to invest $1bn in renewables across Yemen

Abu Dhabi-based Global South Utilities will invest $1 billion in energy projects in Yemen to support the rebuilding of the country’s electricity sector.

The portfolio will include solar and wind energy projects, advanced battery energy storage solutions, and the development of distribution networks, the company said in a statement.

Yemen remains one of the most fragile and poorest countries in the world due to a decade-old conflict, according to the World Bank. The country has been facing an electricity crisis for years due to fuel shortages.

During the opening session of the National Energy Conference in Aden, Ali Alshimmari, CEO of GSU, said that the $1 billion portfolio expands an energy system capable of supporting a larger economy and a more active market in Yemen.

“We are investing in real, reliable energy capacity that opens a new cycle of growth, reduces production costs, and enables hospitals, schools and essential services to operate with stability,” he said.

In August GSU said that the Shabwa solar plant in southeastern Yemen was ready to supply around 330,000 households with clean electricity, while phase two of the Aden solar plant is expected to provide an additional 687,000 households upon completion in 2026.

The company acquired a 51 percent stake in Yashil Energiya, a developer of commercial and industrial solar projects in Uzbekistan, in September.