Total-led Yemen LNG is hoping increased security will allow it to boost exports in 2013, after a violence-plagued 2012. But, with security remaining paramount, the French major’s senior managers have been giving mixed-messages about the company’s long-term commitment to Yemen.

The two train Yemen LNG plant has a nameplate capacity of 6.7mn tons/year but “in reality, it is better [higher] whenever there are no unplanned shutdowns and the trains are continuously running,” Yemen LNG managing director Jacques Azibert told Hong Kong-based Prospect Group on 13 May. He notes that Yemen managed to produce 6.9mn t/y in 2011. (CONTINUED - 1005 WORDS)