President Ali Abdullah Saleh launched last Saturday the first shipment of gas to international markets in Asia, Korea and to the two Americas.

In a statement he made on the occasion, Saleh said gas is the wealth of all Yemenis and the project, which worth nearly USD 5 billion will provide work opportunities to more than 10 thousands Yemeni laborers.But Saleh Affirmed such projects needs security and stability "strategic projects need security, safety and stability. Any strategic and developmental project can not be achieved only under security, safety and stability."Launching the gas project is a clear message to the world that Yemen is a suitable land for investments, said Minister of Oil and Minerals Amir Al-Aidrus. The project adds Yemen to world gas map that exports clean energy to major markets in Asia and the two Americas.Al-Aidrus said, in addition to current Asian, American and Mexican markets, the project will target European and Indian in the future. He said the project that took 15 years of construction will generate USD 30-50 billions to Yemen in its age of 25 years.The first shipment was 149 thousands cubic meters carried from Balhaf Port by KOGAZ tanker to Korean markets, said Ministry of Oil and Minerals' Spokesman Aref Moharram. The second shipment will be 160 thousands cubic meters to be carried by Yemeni Arwa Tanker to American markets.Moharram said the regular export of gas from the port to the international markets will be one shipment, 149 thousand cubic meters every two weeks. The company, he said, owns four tankers for carrying the gas in addition to other three rented ones from Korea Gas Corporation or (KOGAZ).Minister Al-Aidrus said the project is the greatest economic project in the history of Yemen and is considered a real supporter of national economy and development. He affirmed that Yemen is a promising investment environment, rich in its wealth and able to attract strategic projects and big supplies.Speaking on behalf of the shareholders, Yves Louis Darricarrere, President of Exploration and Production at Total SA, noted that “it’s a mark of success for all of us associated with this project, that Yemen LNG has become a successful endeavour for the whole world to witness and take note and it has reinforced the links weaved for the last twenty years between Total and Yemen.”The General Director of Yemen LNG's General Manager Francois RAFIN reviewed efforts of the company during the past period while constructing the project, saying "the company is proud of exporting the first shipment of Yemeni gas to international markets."He said the company is planning to build a new port and making the fleet composing of 12 tankers for carrying gas.He said the project will target in the future Chinese and other markets in the world, noting that long- term revenues have been secured to Yemen via the company's gas sales for the next 25 years which will contribute greatly to the state's budget.Exporting the first shipment of gas within a series of 2500 shipments for the 25 years, the age of the project, is significant mark in Yemen's history, said Yves Louis Darricarrere, President of Exploration and Production at Total SA.He added that 100 tankers will carry the gas every year from Balhaf Port which means funding the state's budget for 25 years ahead.Last October, 15 Yemen LNG announced the Company started producing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from its liquefaction terminal in Balhaf, on the Gulf of Aden.The Yemen LNG project is the largest and most important investment ever made in Yemen with an investment of around US$ 4.5 billion. It consists of supplying gas from Block 18, located in the Marib region in central Yemen , through a 320 kilometres dedicated pipeline to the LNG plant located at the port of Balhaf on the Arab Sea, south east of Yemen.The plant started production with the first train while the construction of the second train is being completed. The total production capacity will reach 6.7 million tons of LNG per year.Launched in August 2005, the project shareholders are TOTAL (Project Leader) (39.62%), Yemen Gas Company (16.73%), Hunt Oil Company (17.22%), SK Energy Co., Ltd. (9.55%), Korea Gas Corporation – KOGAS (6.00%), the General Authority for Social Security and Pensions of Yemen (5.00%) and Hyundai Corporation (5.88%)