Low-end generators and regulators and other products sell well

Yemen has been unable to implement normal power supply, and power supply in Yemen has been stretched since the outbreak of the conflict that forced former President Saleh back a few years ago. Without electricity, residents suffering from the darkness had to save frugally to buy generators.
However, Yemenis have limited purchasing power, so cheap low-end generators are the most popular, but low-end generators are often of poor quality, prone to casualties, and can burn electrical appliances. In addition to generators, uninterruptible power supply batteries and voltage regulators, which are not very common equipment, have become a necessity for life in Yemen.
Hugo learned from the Yemeni Times that Yemen's electricity supply is inadequate, power is often cut off, and residents in better economic conditions usually buy generators. However, the quality of generators in Yemen market is uneven, and the price difference is very large. After a series of tragedies caused by generators, Yemenis have come to realize that some generators, though cheap, can cost more.
Majid is an engineer who often installs equipment and machines for customers, including generators. He believes that many customers have been attracted by low prices and bought poorer quality generators, but they do not know that such generators often have problems, so they do not take into account the subsequent repair and maintenance costs. Consumers must take into account that low-cost generators can't control the current as steadily as high-end generators, so there may be a potential risk of burning out appliances, which will cost more.
"A lot of customers came to me with low-cost generators for repairs, but I refused because the cost of repairs was almost one third of the total cost of generators, which was not cost-effective," Majid said. Cheap generators cannot last for more than five hours, while better quality generators can last for 10 hours without any problems.
In Yemen, the power capacity on generator labels often misleads consumers. In the case of limited generator power capacity, some consumers use multiple appliances at the same time, and eventually burn many appliances.
Weir, a resident of Sana'a, Yemen, spent 24,000 YR on a generator, but after four months he was afraid to use it again because it damaged many electrical appliances, resulting in high maintenance costs. Now, he says, it's more likely to light candles.
The grocery retailer, Salabi, said, "There are two big bad things here, one is frequent power outages, the other is poor quality generators. Business can only be run normally with electricity, so I have to buy a generator. Things like milk and cheese must be refrigerated to keep them fresh. A power cut once cost me 20,000 rials. Generally speaking, buying or not buying generators is not your choice, because generators are a necessity.
The salad cost about 26,000 rials more than the first generator, but the generator burned out his refrigerator and he had to spend 120,000 rials ($560) to buy a better one.
Taha Al-Amri, head of the General Administration of Standards and Metrology, said Yemen did not currently have standards for imported generators, making it a fertile land for low-end generators to overflow. In addition, Yemeni people do not have the scientific use of generators, for example, some people put generators on balconies or even indoors to use, without any awareness of the possible harm. Generators not only cause noise, but also may cause insomnia in neighbors. At the same time, the fumes emitted by generators can also cause harm to human body.
Brigadier Abdulkareem Mayad, head of the Civil Defense Bureau, said that accidents causing deaths due to improper operation of generators occur every year. He urged residents not to place generators in houses or enclosed spaces, but in open spaces, such as roofs or courtyards. According to the Ministry of the Interior, about 60 people died in generator-related accidents in 2012 and 74 in 2013.
Sharabi is the owner of a generator shop. He says the demand for low-cost generators is growing. However, more than half of Yemeni residents live on less than two dollars a day, and even some low-cost generators are unaffordable to many.
Mohammed Jubran, professor of economics at Sana'a University, said Yemenis had spent $500 million since 2010 on various generators. Insufficient power is the main reason for the hot sale of generators.
Hugo learned that walking on the streets of Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, the harsh noise of generator motors kept ringing in the ears. Almost every shop has a small generator that emits a pungent smell. When the generator fails, it emits thick black smoke, but local residents are also accustomed to it.
Before the outbreak of the conflict in Yemen, it was impossible to provide sufficient power supply. The daily blackouts lasted only three or four hours and seven or eight hours. After a year of unrest, Sana'a, the capital, now has almost a full-time blackout, and many southern provinces have blackouts for more than 20 hours a day.
The unstable voltage of generators and frequent power outages have greatly shortened the life of electrical appliances. Household appliances such as computers, TV sets, refrigerators and washing machines are often burnt out because of instantaneous power outages. Energy-saving lamps in the house are almost broken in a day or two. Uninterruptible power supply batteries and voltage regulators, which are not common equipment, have become necessities for life in Yemen.