SANAA, Yemen — In Yemen, a country beset by crisis, citizens are increasingly turning to solar energy to counteract frequent power outages.
However, market manipulation and sometimes shoddy products have tainted the growing market for solar panels.
Power outages have been ongoing in the country for 90 days with few signs of relief, prompting many to look for energy alternatives. People responded by purchasing solar panels, causing the price of the panels to triple during the ongoing Ramadan, a Muslim holy month of fasting.
"Yemenis are living in difficult conditions because of the constant power outages and they have turned to solar energy, which has become very expensive," market worker Sami al-Haidari recently told Rudaw.
The price of the solar panels has been manipulated and the quality is inconsistent, causing citizens to distrust the markets and traders. This situation has become even more dire due to the Saudi-led blockade on the country.
"After Saudi Arabia’s war on Yemen the price of solar energy has tripled and poor people are suffering due to the high price,” said government worker Yousef Hussein.
"Simple citizens dream of buying a 10 watt, not a 250 watt panel, while I purchased 50 watts based on my income," Sami Alzaraei, a market worker, told Rudaw.
Athuri, an electrical engineer, told Rudaw, “Citizens in the market have been manipulated by some traders. They place false stickers indicating the solar panels are high quality and from India and Germany."
"The demands for the alternative products have increased and it is not allowed to import goods into the country,” added electrician Mohammed Asbahi.
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