Legacy Yemen Program Continues
Nexen and Yemen go back a long way. Along with our Masila Block project partners, Occidental Petroleum and Consolidated Contractors Company, we entered into a partnership with the Government of Yemen in the late 1980s to develop the country's oil reserves. During that time, we produced more than one billion barrels of oil, helped build a viable energy industry and established strong community bonds. As of December 17, 2011, the contract on Masila Block expired, bringing to a close our 25 year history in that block.
Over the years, we’ve made a significant difference in Yemen, forming close ties with the Yemeni people. We’ve helped build schools, provided community medical clinics, purchased and installed power generators in local communities and supported a number of projects to improve water supply and sanitation facilities.
Support for Education in Yemen
One of the ways we worked to establish and nurture our relationship with the people of Yemen is through the Nexen Yemen Scholarship Program. This pioneering program brings young Yemenis to Calgary to pursue four-year post-secondary degrees, enabling them to access promising careers.
Since the inception of the program in 1997, Nexen has awarded scholarships to a total of 130 young Yemenis, approximately 30% of whom are women. The program has resulted in 70 graduates with bachelors' degrees in fields including engineering, computer science, business and information technology.
Each scholarship underwrites tuition, books, accommodation, a monthly living allowance and annual travel to Yemen. The value of each scholarship over four years is $180,000. With the conclusion of operations in Masila, we plan to sponsor our current students through completion of their degree programs. We have no plans to offer any additional scholarships through this program.
Program impact
Alumni of the Nexen Yemen Scholarship program tend to have their pick of careers. Several recent graduates have found work in Calgary with Nexen or other energy companies as engineers, systems analysts and communications specialists. Still others have returned to Yemen and are making a difference, working for international social development agencies and global energy companies including Nexen.