Kuwait’s ‘clean fuel’ project near completion: Al-Jeemaz
Envoy hails Kuwaiti participation in ME Petrotech ’16
MANAMA, Sept 28, (KUNA): Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery Ahmed Al-Jeemaz said on Wednesday that the clean fuel project has made long strides reaching 65 percent near completion.
The project aims to produce approximately 800,000 barrels per day by 2018, he added.
Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on the sidelines of the participation of Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) in the Petrotech Middle East 2016 exhibition and conference, Al-Jeemaz said that the project will have significant economic returns through marketing capability of clean fuel in the European Union area and the United States.
He explained that the fuel will enjoy the required specifications and approval with the European environmental standards, which gives Kuwait strong access to the European market and increase the competitiveness and marketing capacity in the European Union area, which imposes environmental standards for such fuel.
He stressed that the project is one of the most vital ones as it provides environmental improvements to the product for the domestic market, as well as by reducing environmental pollution for electric power plants, in addition to providing employment opportunities for national labor estimated at about 1,000 jobs.
Closure
He also pointed to the closure of the Shuaiba refinery in April of next year and attach it to the Mina Abdullah refinery.
Asked about the government and the Supreme Petroleum Council’s approval to set up an integrated petroleum industry company, Al-Jeemaz confirmed that this company was born giant and very significant because of its importance in running Az-Zour refinery and terminals to import liquefied natural gas and the presence of an attached petrochemical complex.
He said the company’s production capacity will be up nearly at 615,000 barrels per day, becoming one of the largest refineries in the region, adding that 40 percent of its production will be dedicated to the power stations of the low-sulfur fuel.
Meanwhile, Dean of the diplomatic corps, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Bahrain Sheikh Azzam Mubarak Al-Sabah praised Kuwait’s participation in “Middle East Petrotech 2016” conference held in Bahrain.
He added in a press statement, after attending the opening of Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) pavilion, that Kuwait’s oil companies have a long tradition and extensive experience in the field of refining and petrochemical industry.
He expressed hope that the exhibition contributes to developing Kuwaiti youth worker’s expertise in this vital industry.
Middle East Petrotech 2016 is the most established exhibition and conference for the downstream refining and petrochemical industries, the event kicked off last Monday and chaired by Kuwait Petroleum International and Saudi Aramco.