Riyadh (Debriefer) - The Houthi group has intensified its military presence on Safer without observing the safety and security rules, worsening the Yemeni floating storage (FSO) facility's condition, the official government oil minister said Monday.
Safer's bad conditions are exacerbating daily, Aus al-Aud added, citing the Houthi denial to allow the UN experts access to the supertanker off Ras Isa port in Hodeida, according to the Riyadh-based Saba.
The Houthi irresponsible actions by increasingly sending more militants will lead the FSO to explode or sink, he warn, putting the Red Sea at risk of environmental disaster.
The Yemeni minister called on the UN and its special envoy for Yemen to practice more pressures on Houthis to allow for UN-supervised safe discharge of the 1.1 million barrels of oil out of Safer.
The UN and Houthis, however, are closing in on a deal that would allow the expert team access to Safer facility, diplomatic sources said earlier on Monday.
Four European countries secured the funding required by the UN expert team expected to assess the FSO and report on future steps needed to maintain or discharge Safer, the sources added in remarks carried by Asharq al-Awsat.
There still a slight point pending between the UN and Houthis, who are very close to reach a deal, the UK ambassador to Yemen said.
Once this point is solved, the UN assessment team could be seen on the ground in 6 to 7 weeks, Michael Aron added.
