Kuwait completes work on $16bn Clean Fuels Project

Kuwait's state refiner KNPC has completed work on a new hydrocracking unit at its 454,000 b/d Mina Abdullah refinery, marking the conclusion of the company's long-delayed $16bn Clean Fuels Project (CFP).

The hydrocracking unit — unit 114 — is the largest of its kind in Kuwait and is capable of producing 70,000 b/d of low-sulfur diesel and high-quality kerosene, both of which meet European requirements and standards.

This unit was the last of 70 that KNPC had to complete at Mina Abdullah refinery as part of the CFP which integrates the plant with KNPC's other refinery at Mina al-Ahmadi, raising their combined crude processing capacity to 800,000 b/d.

Upgrading work at the Mina al-Ahmadi refinery was completed in April 2020, which reduced its refining capacity to 346,000 b/d from 440,000 b/d previously.

Completion of the CFP will help boost KNPC's profits and open up new markets for Kuwaiti oil products, KNPC's acting deputy CEO for projects Ghanim al-Otaibi said. It is as yet unclear when KNPC is planning to formally commission the project.

By Ieva Paldaviciute