Yemenis go solar amid war energy shortage

(Reuters News, 17 Nov 2019) Booming solar sector is transforming lives and energy sustainability in Yemen, poor country with scant rural power access even before conflict knocked out most of national grid.

When electricity was cut to Yemen's capital four years ago after war broke out, Ebrahim al-Faqih saw a gap in the market and started selling solar panels.

Faqih is part of a booming solar sector transforming lives and energy sustainability in Yemen, a poor country with scant rural power access even before conflict knocked out most of the national grid.

"Even people who used to work selling food moved to work in solar energy because of the high demand," Faqih said from his shop in Sanaa selling solar water heaters and panels imported from India and China.

The United Nations estimates that only 10% of the population had access to electricity after the conflict began.

Many areas need pumps to bring drinking and irrigation water to the surface and fuel shortages have also made water hard to come by.

"Electricity these days isn't just for lighting -- electricity is life," said Muhammad Yahya, whose home in Sanaa is powered by rooftop solar panels.

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Reuters News, 17 Nov 2019: Yemenis go solar amid war energy shortage