KPC radical changes fail to yield positive results

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 19: Despite the vast and radical changes that the oil sector witnessed two years ago with the appointment of a new board of directors for the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), and the appointment of Hashem Al-Hashem as the CEO to succeed Nizar Al-Adsani, and Khaled AlFadhel as the Minister of Oil following the resignation of Bakhit Al-Rashidi, which was widely welcomed in the oil and economic circles, these changes did not succeed in overcoming the instability and the negative repercussions of that stage, reports Al-Qabas daily.

The problems of the sector are worsening and their severity is increasing. The conflict raged at its most intense level between the two heads of the oil pyramid to such an extent that it reached the point of rupture between them.

According to reliable sources, the disagreements between the two heads of the sector caused huge administrative and technical problems, starting with holding the position of managing director for administrative affairs, renewing appointment of oil leaders whose service period exceeded 35 years, choosing leaders based on loyalties, and renewing the appointment of the director of the minister’s office without the approval of the honorable minister.

It also includes recent suspicions of manipulation in employment structures, rotations and promotions that have hit the wall with efficiency standards, in addition to the continuing delays and noncompletion of billions of internal and external projects.

In light of the aforementioned abuses and disagreements, the report of the parliament’s Investigation Committee recommended referring the current and former oil leaders to the Public Prosecution on suspicions of misappropriating public money.

The sources asked, “Are the results of the parliamentary investigation committee and the reports submitted against billions of lost projects not enough to stop these leaders from working? The continuation of these leaders in their positions is the greatest evidence of the level of influence of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation”.

They explained that the CEO of KPC initiated his relationship with the honorable minister with clashing decisions, and worked on forming a conglomerate within the board of directors of KPC against him. He deliberately provoked the minister in more than one situation until the matter reached some leaders and managers, who were given direct instructions to not respond to the inquiries and requests of the minister!