KUWAIT: Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC) announced on Sunday the start of commercial operations of the first phase of Al-Zour refinery project. In a statement to KUNA, Acting CEO of KIPIC Waleed Al-Bader said the operation is an important historic event and considered a mainstay of the country's development plan. It provides fuel of high quality and environmental standards to meet local demand for energy, as it limits emissions of gases polluting the environment and improves air quality, Bader added.

He indicated that it is a vital outlet for the disposal of heavy Kuwaiti oil and provides other refined products for export in global markets with standard specifications. He praised the exceptional role of national expertise and Kuwaiti youth, who were qualified according to the highest professional levels in leading and implementing the operations of Al-Zour refinery. Bader expressed his thanks and appreciation for all the efforts made in achieving this national achievement.

Executive Vice President of Al-Zour Refinery Khaled Al-Awadhi told KUNA that operating the first phase of the refinery will enhance the growth of the national economy, increase the state's financial revenues and provide more job opportunities for national cadres. Despite the challenges that the project faced, referring to the coronavirus pandemic, KIPIC fulfilled its commitment to the project's readiness according to the highest international standards and specifications, meeting all operational needs and observing all environmental requirements.

On May 11, KIPIC carried out the trial operation of the first crude oil distillation unit and refined 2.5 million barrels of crude oil, securing the main stock of oil derivatives that contributed to the smooth operation of the rest of the units, he pointed out. Awadhi praised the efforts of KIPIC employees, its operations and maintenance groups, technical and engineering services and health, safety, environment, security and firefighting teams. He said the human element is the most important for KIPIC in the refinery's operating plan, so the executive management was keen to provide the best training programs to qualify the workers to be at the highest level of professional competence.

Meanwhile, the board of directors of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation on Sunday issued decisions appointing Ahmed Al-Aidan as CEO of Kuwait Oil Company and Wadha Al-Khatib as CEO of Kuwait National Petroleum Company. According to the statement, Waleed Al-Bader was appointed CEO of KIPIC, Nadia Al-Hajji as CEO of Petrochemical Industries Company and Mohammed Al-Himer as CEO of Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company.

Shafi Al-Ajmi was appointed CEO of Kuwait Petroleum International, Khalid Al-Otaibi CEO of Kuwait Gulf Oil Company and Sheikh Khaled Ahmad Al-Sabah was appointed Managing Director of Global Marketing at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and Acting CEO of Kuwait Oil Tanker Company. The decisions included the appointment of Hisham Al-Rifai as Managing Director of Human Resources at KPC and Bader Al-Attar as Managing Director for Planning and Finance at KPC.

According to the statement, the CEO of KPC Sheikh Nawaf Al-Saud Al-Nasser Al-Sabah expressed his full confidence in the ability of the new oil leaders to achieve the vision of the corporation to a tangible reality and achieve the desired goal towards the development of the sector in Kuwait. Sheikh Nawaf praised the pivotal role played by the previous oil leaders and the fundamental imprints they left behind, which contributed to advancing the development and success of the Kuwaiti oil sector. - KUNA