Yemeni economists considered raising the prices of oil derivatives a political suicide, emphasizing that there are no realistic justifications for such a critical decision by the government.
Dr. Mohammad Jubran, Professor of Economics at Sana'a University, said that the 2009 general budget included an increase in some materials' prices among which were petroleum products.
Jubran pointed out that, raising prices of oil derivatives in such circumstances might lead the citizens' living conditions even worse.
He stressed that, any justifications for increasing oil prices would seem to be pointless as oil prices are within safe limits, for the time being.

Moreover, Jubran warned that taking such a step would create many problems and unrest for the country. Confirming that not more than 50%of oil derivatives are consumed locally while the rest 50% is smuggled abroad, Jubran said that Yemeni government is not obliged to support foreigners while Yemenis are deprived of their country's wealth.
For his part, the head of the Economic Information Center, Mustafa Nasr, warned that taking such a step in light of such circumstances of the country may create even more problems, and severely affect people.

"Raising prices without any real pro-poor program might lead at least 20% of the Yemeni people under the poverty line," Nasr said.
Last week, a critical shortage of oil and its derivatives was experienced all around Yemen. Long queues of cars were seen even in the capital amid insufficient diesel quantities at filling stations. News about raising oil derivatives prices was soon heard of.

Yemen General Corporation for Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources, attributed this shortage to pirates' attacks that forced oil and gas tankers not to transport fuel from Aden Refinery to the branches throughout the country.

On reported oil derivatives' prices hikes, a source at the Yemeni Oil Company denied adding that some people are taking advantage of the crisis selling fuel at higher prices, making the crisis worse.