All Measures Will Be Taken to 'Kuwaitize' Oil Sector, Says Minister

A view of Kuwait City, Kuwait. (AFP file photo)
A view of Kuwait City, Kuwait. (AFP file photo)
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All Measures Will Be Taken to 'Kuwaitize' Oil Sector, Says Minister

A view of Kuwait City, Kuwait. (AFP file photo)
A view of Kuwait City, Kuwait. (AFP file photo)

Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil, Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Dr. Mohammad Al-Fares, said that "Kuwaitization" as a policy is approved by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and all necessary measures will be taken to "Kuwaitize" the oil sector.

In response to a parliamentary question about the reason for renewing the contracts of non-Kuwaiti engineers in the KPC, he explained that the Kuwaitization procedures for the sector will take place in two phases.

The first phase begins with direct employment. Two thousand Kuwaitis were employed during the past year, reported the state news agency (KUNA).

The second phase is the Kuwaitization of the private sector represented by contractor companies, equivalent to 30 percent of workers in the sector.

Al-Fares stressed the government's interest in appointing engineering graduates at the ministry, whether university students or diploma holders.

The optimum utilization of engineers in water production plants was reviewed, added Al-Fares, pointing out the preparation of an integrated plan to develop the sector and upscale engineers.

He underscored the ministry's commitment to the decision of the Civil Service Council regarding the dismissal of resident workers and their replacement with Kuwaiti engineers and technicians.

Kuwait has a strategic plan to increase the oil output to 3.2 million barrels per day by 2025 and 4 million bpd by 2035 and to maintain this level by 2040.



EU May Suspend Syria Sanctions on Energy and Transport

FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
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EU May Suspend Syria Sanctions on Energy and Transport

FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo

The European Union may soon suspend sanctions on Syria related to energy and transport but has yet to agree on whether to ease restrictions on financial transactions, according to three diplomats and a document seen by Reuters.
EU foreign ministers will discuss the matter at a meeting in Brussels on Monday. The bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Reuters on Wednesday she hopes a political agreement on easing the sanctions can be reached at the gathering.
Europe’s approach to Damascus began to shift after Bashar al-Assad was ousted as president in December by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which the United Nations designates as a terrorist group.
Officials see transport as key for helping Syria’s airports become fully operational, which in turn could facilitate the return of refugees. Energy and electricity are similarly seen as important for improving living conditions to help stabilize the country and encourage citizens to come back.
According to an EU document seen by Reuters, diplomats from the bloc's 27 members recommended taking swift action towards suspending the restrictions "in sectors necessary for economic stabilization and launch of economic reconstruction of Syria, such as those regarding energy and transport”.
The diplomats, who are part of a group that negotiates the EU’s foreign policy positions on issues related to the Middle East and North Africa, also recommended “assessing options for reopening banking and investment relations with Syria”.
“The easing of EU restrictive measures would be rolled out in a staged approach and in a reversible manner, regularly assessing if the conditions in Syria allow for further suspension,” the diplomats wrote, pointing to the need for respect for fundamental freedoms and an inclusive transition.
The wording of the document represents a compromise among EU capitals. Some governments want to move quickly to suspend sanctions, while others prefer a more careful and gradual approach to ensure Europe retains leverage.
If a political agreement is announced on Monday, European officials would proceed to work on the technical details of a suspension.
A number of sanctions should remain in place, according to the document, including measures related to the Al-Assad regime, illicit drug trade and arms trade.