Kuwait National Petroleum Company’s (KNPC) key focus is on completion of its $12bn Clean Fuels Project as the country emerges from lockdown.
In his first major speech since Kuwait introduced strict restrictions designed to combat the spread of Covid-19, KNPC chief executive Walid al-Badr said that the company’s most important work was the completion of the two clean fuels projects at the Mina Abdullah refinery.
In March 2019, Kuwait’s Supreme Council for Planning & Development said the Clean Fuels Project would be finished before the start of 2020, but the project has been hit by a series of delays.
The three main packages were awarded during 2014. Mina Abdullah, Package 1, was awarded to a consortium of Petrofac, Samsung Engineering, Chicago Bridge & Iron. Mina Abdullah, Package 2, was awarded to a consortium of Fluor Corporation, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Daewoo E&C. Mina al-Ahmadi, Package 3, was awarded to a consortium of JGC Corporation, GS Engineering & Construction, SK Engineering & Construction.
Earlier this year, KNPC announced that construction work for Package 3, located at Mina al-Ahmadi, had been completed. Packages 1 and 2 have a combined value of $8.1bn and still require significant work to be done before completion is achieved.
The Clean Fuels Project was first announced in Kuwait in 2007. KNPC awarded technology contracts for the scheme to several international firms, including US engineering and technical services company Chevron Lummus, in February 2008.
Orders for 37 reactors and vessels were placed, but the project stalled in 2009.
Kuwait’s Supreme Petroleum Council reviewed the project in 2010 and the plans were finally approved in June 2011.
