Kuwait prioritises efforts to curb pollution

Minister of Oil Dr. Ali Al-Omair said Sunday the rising ratio of carbon dioxide and other oil-associated pollutants in the air constitutes a top priority for the state and the oil companies as well. "Kuwait is fully committed to the efforts aiming to curb the carbon dioxide emissions," Al-Omair, also Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs, told reporters on the sidelines of the technical conference and industry exhibition. The two events are being organized by Kuwait Society of Engineers in collaboration with a group of Indian oil engineers under the title of "energy and environment - engineering and administrative challenges. "Kuwait, as a main oil exporter, maintains close ties and fruitful cooperation with India - one of the world's major oil consumers with the fast economic growth rate," the minister pointed out. "The ongoing conference provides an opportunity for both countries to share technical knowledge in the areas of oil industry and environment protection," Dr. Al-Omair affirmed. He noted that Kuwait took part in the preparations for an international conference on climate change, to be held in Paris next year. On the new oil refinery, the minister said the Central Tenders Committee (CTC) approved the rehabilitation of the consortium implementing the project, noting that the approval is a crucial step towards smooth implementation. "The new refinery is a part of our ambitious strategy to produce clean fuel for power plants and seawater desalination stations that could meet the environmental standards," Al-Omair added. Meanwhile, Kuwait Society of Engineers' Chairman Ayad Al-Humoud said the conference will discuss energy issues and the environmental challenges posed by the execution of mega projects in the oil industry. "A constellation of Kuwaiti, Indian and other nationality engineers, as well as representatives of major oil companies, gathered here with a view to brainstorm ideas on the impacts of the oil industry on environment," he noted. "The local oil companies, notably Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) and Kuwait Oil Co. (KOC), attach a great importance to the conservation of the conventional energy resources and the protection of environment," Al-Humoud pointed out. "These companies have introduced several techniques for reducing the environment hazards of the oil industry and leveraging the renewable energies," he added. Eng. Ahmad Al-Jimaz, CEO of Mina Al-Abdullah Refinery noted that the ongoing conference and exhibition are being organized under an initiative by a group of oil engineers. Al-Jimaz, key speaker at the conference, noted that a large number of international celebrities in the oil field take part in the activities of the conference and exhibition.