French energy giant Total's Yemen liquefied natural gas (LNG) project will start production in the summer, a Total executive said on Monday.

The plant will ship its first cargo of LNG 'mid-year', Total's president of Exploration and Production Yves-Louis Darricarrere said at a press conference in Doha.

In November, Yemen's president said the first cargo from the plant would be shipped in May 2009.-Reuters