Yemeni government officials, including Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik and ministers of finance, oil and electricity, discussed on Thursday the progress of a panel set up to review terms and conditions to import fuel for power plants in the temporary capital Aden.

Since its return to the port city of Aden following the Riyadh Agreement signed last month in the Saudi capital, the Yemeni legitimate government has taken a series of measures to improve the living conditions of citizens.

The measures include finding a new mechanism to break the monopoly of the imports of oil derivatives with an aim to provide fuel at the lowest possible prices.

During their meeting on Thursday, government officials emphasized the importance of local companies participating in tenders along with international firms to allow for more competition, Yemen’s news agency Saba said.

According to the agency, the meeting, the second of its kind to be held this week, also discussed proposals and perspectives to revitalize the Aden Refinery to import the local market's need of fuel.

Abdulmalik said that economic steps taken by the government under the directives and support of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi aim to improve the living conditions of the Yemeni people and to help normalize the situation in liberated areas.

“In light of the Riyadh Agreement, the current stage should appease the people by offering them hope on a new beginning,” the PM said, according to official sources.

Also Thursday, the Yemeni Cabinet held a session in Aden to review practical steps taken by the government to put the Riyadh Agreement in place.

It discussed ongoing efforts to normalize the situation and revive state institutions.

The government said its top priority in the period ahead is to pay the salaries of the public sector and carry out security and military arrangements.

Abdulmalik and his government ministers returned to Aden last month under a power-sharing deal with the Southern Transitional Council (STC).