Yemen to resume oil exports from Maareb field next week 

(MENAFN - Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Yemeni Safer oil company will next week resume oil exports from Maareb fields following a suspension that lasted for over 18 months because of sabotage acts against a key oil pipeline, Minister of Oil and Minerals Hesham Sharaf said Saturday.

The pipeline transports oil from Maareb fields to the export pier in Ras Essa at the Red Sea, western Yemen.

Sharaf, in a meeting with executives from Safer oil company, which operates oil production and explorations in Maareb fields, said the government would use every mean to crack down on any individual or groups who wanted to sabotage the pipeline.

Sharaf said revenues of Maareb field exports estimated at USD three billion per year, thus "halting oil export inflicted huge damage to the Yemeni economy.

" He added that technical teams, backed by army forces, would finish repairing the pipeline this week and exports would resume next week.

More than 15 explosions hit the pipeline since February 2011 which forced oil exports to stop from Maareb field.

Sharaf said the international community and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) were supporting President Abdo Rabbu Mansour Hadi's efforts to restore security and stability nationwide in Yemen.