The UN has discussed with the Houthis the prospect of creating an escrow account for the sale of 1.1 million barrels of oil aboard the decaying FSO Safer supertanker, Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Yemen David Gressly told The National on Sunday.
In an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the first Yemen International Forum in Stockholm, Mr Gressly said the Houthis “were not opposed to the concept, but were not ready to act on it yet”.
The event was organised by the Sanaa Centre for Strategic studies in collaboration with the government of Sweden.
The FSO Safer is a vessel connected via pipeline to the oil-rich city of Marib, and is moored off the coast of Ras Issa in the Red Sea. At the mercy of the elements, the corroding ship has been unmaintained since at least 2016 and poses a grave environmental threat to Yemen and other countries such as Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, Djibouti and others, if the oil leaks or the vessel explodes.
The UN has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Houthis to offload the oil on to a temporary vessel in an emergency operation. After that is done, the plan is to replace the Safer with a permanent vessel. The Houthis said they will not make financial contributions to this plan.
Ownership versus control
“My engagement in Sanaa tells me clearly that the Houthis are concerned about the oil spilling, so they have an interest in securing it. If we could sell the oil, we would have sold it, but because of complications of control versus ownership, it’s not possible right now,” Mr Gressly said.
Technically, the oil belongs to Yemen’s national SAFER Exploration and Production Operations Company. But since the Houthis possess control of the area where the ship is located, they have been monopolising access to the vessel sought by the UN and technical inspectors for years.
Sea mines also surround the area where the Safer is moored. Mr Gressly hopes a peace settlement could be reached through the continuing UN-brokered talks in Amman between the warring sides.
“The political process might assist in figuring out the oil situation. If there’s a settlement, one would expect this issue would be resolved at the same time. So we have to see how the future plays out,” he said.
Mr Gressly’s main focus for now is to raise the $20 million remaining to cover the emergency operation’s cost of $80m, which he was hoping to do by the end of this June.
Earlier this month, the UN set up a crowdfund to raise $5m towards that goal.
“We don’t expect the crowdfunding to bridge the $20 million gap — even $5 million will be a bit of a stretch as well but it’s a way not only to get contributions but to also raise global awareness of the problem.”
“Most of the systems aboard the ship have broken down. This includes a key system to pump inert gas into the oil chambers. Atmospheric oxygen is now in those chambers and so a small flame could set off an explosion.”
Time is of the essence in this operation because as the currents and winds get stronger and more turbulent in winter, the chances that the Safer breaks up or suffers from an oil spill become higher, Mr Gressly said.
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Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
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Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
MATCH INFO
BRIGHTON 0
MANCHESTER UNITED 3
McTominay 44'
Mata 73'
Pogba 80'
Boulder shooting victims
• Denny Strong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
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Brave CF 27 fight card
Welterweight:
Abdoul Abdouraguimov (champion, FRA) v Jarrah Al Selawe (JOR)
Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (TUN) v Alex Martinez (CAN)
Welterweight:
Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA) v Khamzat Chimaev (SWE)
Middleweight:
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Rustam Chsiev (RUS)
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) v Christofer Silva (BRA)
Super lightweight:
Alex Nacfur (BRA) v Dwight Brooks (USA)
Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) v Tariq Ismail (CAN)
Chris Corton (PHI) v Zia Mashwani (PAK)
Featherweight:
Sulaiman (KUW) v Abdullatip (RUS)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) v Mohammad Al Katib (JOR)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RACECARD
6pm Emaar Dubai Sprint – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Turf) 1,200m
6.35pm Graduate Stakes – Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.10pm Al Khail Trophy – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,810m
7.45pm UAE 1000 Guineas – Listed (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
8.20pm Zabeel Turf – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,000m
8.55pm Downtown Dubai Cup – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 1,400m
9.30pm Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
10.05pm Dubai Sprint – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
Ultra processed foods
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- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
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- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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More on Quran memorisation:
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips%20for%20travelling%20while%20needing%20dialysis
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