Kuwait’s plans for increasing the contribution made by renewables to the energy mix and boosting output at its refineries were among the topics explored by five industry experts in comments they gave to Oxford Business Group’s online broadcasting channel, Global Platform.
The collection of interviews with representatives of Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) is now available to view in full at https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/kuwaits-solar-energy-drive-moving-fast-global-platform-interviews-highlight-latest-developments-in-energy-sector
Khalid Abul, Team Leader, Major Project (I), KOC, told viewers that although the country had maintained its capital projects in recent years, the climate of fluctuating global oil prices had contributed to the decision to diversify the energy mix.
“It broadens the ideas, the expansions and the vision of the oil sector to invest in other, diversified options,” he said.
The drive to develop the solar segment is now accelerating, in line with Kuwait’s target of obtaining 15% of its energy needs from renewables by 2030, according to Khaled Al Mazeedi, Team leader, Research and Technology, KPC.
“In terms of solar energy, we started late, but we are moving fast,” he noted.
The Al Dibdibah Solar Park project is central to Kuwait’s plans to harness the sun’s energy; slated to be commissioned in early 2021, the plant will have the capacity to produce 1.5GW of power, making it one of the biggest projects of its kind in the world.
Meshal Al Saeidi, Team Leader, Projects, KNPC, told Global Platform that the project will offer opportunities for both foreign investors and local manufacturers in areas such as the supply of materials and technology.
“It will consist of five solar generating units, with each estimated to generate 300 MW,” he explained. “The main objective of the project is to generate 3150 GWh (GigaWatt hour) at the year 25 after commissioning. It’s a unique model and we are really confident that the project will meet the objective.”
The country’s efforts to take its oil and gas industry to the next level are also gaining pace, according to Fatemah Al Sori, Senior Controller, External Communication, KNPC.
“Kuwait’s refineries are being updated,” she said. “Building up new units will help in reaching the capacity that we are aiming for in the future.
She added that training the next generation of Kuwaitis was seen as a key part of the country remained at the forefront of the industry in the future, a view shared by Sahar Al Awadhi, Team Leader, Strategic Planning, KPC.
“Implementing and maintaining the world-class standards for operational excellence, to achieve sustainable leadership in oil and gas industry, is one of the KPC’s common 2040 strategy directions,” she told Global Platform.
Marc-André de Blois, OBG’s Director of PR and Video Content, said that the collection of interviews showed that Kuwait’s commitment to diversifying its energy mix and modernising the refining segment were well on track.
“Investors will be particularly keen to hear about the openings that the country’s still nascent renewables segment looks set to produce in areas such as the application of systems and various technologies,” he said. “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to share these and other significant industry developments with viewers.”
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