Reuters reported that Yemen's Aden refinery, shut for nearly two months following a blast that damaged the country's main oil pipeline will resume production after receiving a shipment of Saudi donated crude.

A refinery official said that "The refinery today began experimental operations after suspension of more than two months due to the halt of crude pipeline from Marib."

Months of pro democracy protests against President Mr Ali Abdullah Saleh's 33 year rule have sparked clashes between government forces and tribesmen, killing dozens.

Violence included a blast on the country's main oil pipeline in mid-March which stopped the flow of light Marib crude to the refinery, bringing it to a halt and triggering country wide fuel shortages.

The official said that if trial production goes well, the refinery will start normal production later on Monday at one of its two units with a capacity of 75,000 barrels per day.

He added that the total capacity of the refinery has been raised. We have now 150,000 barrels per day capacity in two units with each unit at 75,000 barrels per day. We have done an upgrade on the facilities.

Four more shipments are due from Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter which donated 3 million barrels of oil to Yemen. The first shipment of 600,000 barrels arrived in the port of Aden last week.

(Sourced from Reuters)