KNPC expands Mina Al-Ahmadi & Mina Abdullah refinery capacities
Sources confirmed that KNPC has completed numerous maintenance operations on several units in the two refineries and is currently undertaking comprehensive maintenance to increase its production capacity. Sources said the company utilizes the most advanced smart digital technologies to continue production operations optimally, especially since these technologies have a high capacity to predict breakdowns.
Sources stated that to increase the production capacity of Mina Al- Ahmadi Refinery, the company will focus on increasing the operating capacity of the atmospheric distillation residual sulfur removal unit; thereby, raising its production from 50,000 barrels per day to 55,000 barrels. Sources revealed this is in addition to increasing the operating capacity of the atmospheric distillation residual sulfur removal units at Mina Abdullah Refinery to reach 50,000 to 55,000 per unit.
Sources disclosed that the target expansion plan includes increasing the operating capacity of the naphtha processing unit from 23,000 barrels to 25,8000 barrels per day at the Mina Abdullah Refinery. Sources also cited the ongoing efforts to increase the operating capacity of the gasoline production unit at Mina Abdullah Refinery from 18,000 to 20,000 barrels per day. Sources added that the production capacity of the petroleum coke production unit at Mina Al-Ahmadi Refinery will be increased from 37,000 barrels to around 44,400 barrels per day.
Sources affirmed as well that evaluations are underway for several other units at the two refineries in preparation for increasing their production capacity. Sources said KNPC is currently leading an ambitious plan to increase the production of clean refining materials through various means in order to protect the environment. 'Therefore, it is working diligently to reduce emissions through the use of alternative energy. It is expanding the use of alternative energy through solar panels at its fuel stations -- both the existing ones and those to be built in the coming years. The company intends to implement several projects in the coming years to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050,' sources added.
Moreover, sources attributed the decline in the profits of the company for fiscal 2024/2025 to several factors; particularly the geopolitical factors in the region, entry of new African refineries into service, and resumption of Russian refineries, some of which ceased operations some years ago due to the Russian- Ukrainian war. Sources also cited the official launching of the Kuwaiti-Omani Duqm Refinery in February 2024 as one of the factors, as most global markets relied on it, especially during the intensification of geopolitical crises, as well as the recession that accompanied product purchases
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab Times
3 hours ago
- Arab Times
More Love, More Loss? Kuwait's Marriage & Divorce Numbers Revealed
KUWAIT CITY, July 20: Kuwait witnessed a notable 10% increase in marriages in 2024, according to the Ministry of Justice's latest statistical yearbook. A total of 14,639 marriages were recorded, up from 13,303 in 2023—an increase of 1,336 marriages. Among these, 10,564 involved Kuwaiti couples. Divorces also edged upward. The number of divorces that occurred in the same year of marriage rose by 8.3%, from 710 in 2023 to 769 in 2024. The overall divorce rate also increased by 3.9%, with total cases reaching 8,168, up from 7,865 the year before. University graduates accounted for the highest share of divorce cases, with Ahmadi Governorate reporting the highest regional divorce rates. Breakdown of Marriages in 2024 1. Nationality Kuwaiti couples made up 72.2% of all marriages. Non-Kuwaiti couples represented 14.9%. Marriages between Kuwaiti men and non-Kuwaiti women accounted for 9.6%. Marriages between non-Kuwaiti men and Kuwaiti women stood at 3.3%. 2. Educational Background Among husbands, 44.1% held university degrees, followed by diploma holders (21.7%), secondary school graduates (19.1%), and intermediate-level education (11%). Among wives, 55.6% had university degrees, followed by secondary school (23.2%), diploma (13.6%), and intermediate-level education (4.8%). 3. Age Distribution Most husbands were aged 25–29 years (40.2%), followed by 30–34 years (21.3%), and 20–24 years (15.3%). Wives were mostly aged 20–24 years (32%), followed closely by 25–29 years (31.2%) and 30–34 years (12.9%). Ratification Cases and Trends Ratification cases rose from 1,285 in 2023 to 1,348 in 2024—a 4.9% increase. Marriages involving a Kuwaiti husband and a non-Kuwaiti wife were the most common in ratification cases, comprising 59.1% of the total. Statistically, the annual average number of marriages over 2020–2024 stood at 14,212, with a standard deviation of 1,358. The crude marriage rate rose from 276 per 100,000 people in 2023 to 294 in 2024—a 6.5% rise. This equated to 2.9 marriages per 1,000 people in 2024. Marriage Projections for 2025 The Ministry forecasts an annual average of 14,776 marriages in the future, with a 95% confidence interval predicting figures between 12,952 and 16,601 for 2025. Divorce Trends and Demographics 1. Nationality Kuwaiti couples accounted for 62.5% of all divorce cases. Non-Kuwaiti couples made up 17.3%. Divorces between Kuwaiti husbands and non-Kuwaiti wives represented 13.9%. Cases involving non-Kuwaiti husbands and Kuwaiti wives were 6.3%. 2. Duration of Marriage 33.8% of divorces occurred within 1–5 years of marriage. 19.7% occurred between 10–20 years. 18.7% between 5–10 years. 17.3% were within the first year. 10.5% involved marriages lasting over 20 years. 3. Educational Background Among husbands: 32.7% of divorced men had university degrees, followed by intermediate (20.9%), secondary (20.1%), and diploma holders (19.8%). Among wives: 44.4% were university graduates, followed by diploma holders (20.8%), secondary school graduates (19.5%), and intermediate-level education (10.5%). 4. Age Distribution - Husbands aged 45+ made up 29.8% of divorce cases. - Other groups included 30–34 years (19.8%), 35–39 years (16.7%), and 25–29 years (16.6%). - Wives aged 25–29 years represented the highest divorce rate at 20.5%, followed by 30–34 years (19.6%), 45+ (17.9%), and 35–39 years (17.3%). 5. By Governorate The highest rates of divorce among wives were recorded in: Hawalli (19.1%) Ahmadi (18.7%) Ahmadi (18.7%) Farwaniya (17.7%) Capital Governorate (15.3%) Types of Divorce First revocable divorces: 56.5% (up 4% from 2023) First irrevocable divorces: 28% (up 4.2%) Second revocable divorces: 9.4% (up 0.5%) Second irrevocable divorces: 2.5% (up 23.2%) Third irrevocable divorces: 3.6% (down 3%) Divorce among couples with remaining wives increased by 2.6%, from 1,252 cases in 2023 to 1,285 in 2024. Divorce Types Certificate-based divorces: 73.6% (up 3.5%) Mukhala (mutual separation): 19.1% (a sharp 145% rise) Court-judgment-based divorces: 7.3% (down 57.8%) Divorces Before Consummation Rose from 600 in 2023 to 633 in 2024, a 5.5% increase. Medical Referrals The report also recorded a 6.1% increase in medical referrals for marital issues, from 1,083 in 2023 to 1,149 in 2024. Most cases (63.7%) involved Kuwaiti couples.
Arab Times
14 hours ago
- Arab Times
41% of Kuwaiti startups are now led by women, the highest in the Gulf
KUWAIT CITY, July 19: In an unprecedented development for the Gulf region, 41 percent of startups in Kuwait are now spearheaded by women. This figure -- among the highest in the Middle East -- is a manifestation of a sweeping transformation in the entrepreneurial landscape of Kuwait, driven by women who are redefining the boundaries of economic participation. Female entrepreneurs are playing a vital role in challenging long-standing societal stereotypes about women's roles in the economy. From e-commerce and financial technology to creative ventures that celebrate culture and identity, many women-led projects have shown profitability and significant social impact. Experts attribute this surge to several factors as follows: Growing institutional support from the Kuwaiti government, which made entrepreneurship a pillar of its economic diversification strategy; Widespread adoption of digital technology, enabling women to reach customers and collaborators locally and globally; Expanding access to advanced education in Kuwait and abroad, empowering women with the skills and confidence to launch and scale innovative businesses. Social media has also played an instrumental role; giving Kuwaiti women the tools to market their products, build communities, and bypass traditional barriers that once limited their opportunities. Among the standout examples is a startup founded by a young female Kuwaiti entrepreneur producing modern feminist cultural content, as well as another that develops smart e-commerce solutions targeting regional markets in the Gulf. Despite these achievements, certain challenges remain. Many women entrepreneurs report difficulties in securing funding on par with their male peers, citing persistent bias in investment circles and bureaucratic hurdles. Yet, the success and profitability of women-led ventures are beginning to prompt some investors to rethink their priorities and allocate more resources to female founders. The wave of women entrepreneurship aligns with the vision of Kuwait to diversify its economy, away from oil dependency by investing in innovation and the private sector. Programs such as the National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprises Development have been established to incubate emerging businesses and focus on empowering youth and women.
Arab Times
14 hours ago
- Arab Times
KNPC expands Mina Al-Ahmadi & Mina Abdullah refinery capacities
KUWAIT CITY, July 19: Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) aims to increase the production capacity of Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries from 798,600 barrels per day to about 825,000 barrels per day this year. Sources told the newspaper that this step is crucial, considering that the refined products of both refineries contain materials that meet most international environmental requirements; hence, the global markets prefer KNPC products. Sources confirmed that KNPC has completed numerous maintenance operations on several units in the two refineries and is currently undertaking comprehensive maintenance to increase its production capacity. Sources said the company utilizes the most advanced smart digital technologies to continue production operations optimally, especially since these technologies have a high capacity to predict breakdowns. Sources stated that to increase the production capacity of Mina Al- Ahmadi Refinery, the company will focus on increasing the operating capacity of the atmospheric distillation residual sulfur removal unit; thereby, raising its production from 50,000 barrels per day to 55,000 barrels. Sources revealed this is in addition to increasing the operating capacity of the atmospheric distillation residual sulfur removal units at Mina Abdullah Refinery to reach 50,000 to 55,000 per unit. Sources disclosed that the target expansion plan includes increasing the operating capacity of the naphtha processing unit from 23,000 barrels to 25,8000 barrels per day at the Mina Abdullah Refinery. Sources also cited the ongoing efforts to increase the operating capacity of the gasoline production unit at Mina Abdullah Refinery from 18,000 to 20,000 barrels per day. Sources added that the production capacity of the petroleum coke production unit at Mina Al-Ahmadi Refinery will be increased from 37,000 barrels to around 44,400 barrels per day. Sources affirmed as well that evaluations are underway for several other units at the two refineries in preparation for increasing their production capacity. Sources said KNPC is currently leading an ambitious plan to increase the production of clean refining materials through various means in order to protect the environment. 'Therefore, it is working diligently to reduce emissions through the use of alternative energy. It is expanding the use of alternative energy through solar panels at its fuel stations -- both the existing ones and those to be built in the coming years. The company intends to implement several projects in the coming years to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050,' sources added. Moreover, sources attributed the decline in the profits of the company for fiscal 2024/2025 to several factors; particularly the geopolitical factors in the region, entry of new African refineries into service, and resumption of Russian refineries, some of which ceased operations some years ago due to the Russian- Ukrainian war. Sources also cited the official launching of the Kuwaiti-Omani Duqm Refinery in February 2024 as one of the factors, as most global markets relied on it, especially during the intensification of geopolitical crises, as well as the recession that accompanied product purchases
