Kuwait: oil on troubled waters
An offshore oil spill in the Neutral Zone could complicate efforts to restart Kuwaiti-Saudi production
Kuwait hasn't said how the spillage at Ras al-Zour occurred or how much oil lies on the northern waters of the Gulf and the nearby shore. But the development is an embarrassment for the emirate—in part because its energy sector has been dogged by accidents over recent years and partly because it occurred near the Khafji oilfield. This is run by Khafji Joint Operations, a joint venture comprising the Kuwait Gulf Oil Company (KGOC) and Aramco Gulf Operations Company on behalf of Saudi Arabia. The spillage was also close to where Kuwait is building its massive al-Zour oil refinery, which will have capacity of 0.615m barrels a day. Khafji used to produce 300,000 b/d, shared equally by the two pa
Also in this section
21 April 2026
After overcoming a COVID-induced demand collapse with several years of successful market management, geopolitical events have conspired to provide the pact’s biggest test to date
21 April 2026
The regime’s policy of using nuclear ambiguity as a deterrent may have failed but it has realised it has other cards to play, while its neighbours are reappraising their approach to security
21 April 2026
As the global energy system undergoes a fundamental realignment, Algihaz Holdings has established itself as a critical player bridging conventional energy markets and the next generation of renewable infrastructure.
21 April 2026
The 25th WPC Energy Congress is taking place from 11-15 October 2026 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center.
