Kuwait's Shuaiba refinery shuts down, oil exports unaffected

Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC)Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) said Saturday it started a gradual shut down of its Shuaiba refinery, which would be closed for four days for a technical failure, but Kuwait's oil exports would not be affected.

The shut down will ""not whatsoever affects the company's exports, its storages or commitment towards its clients,"" KNPCKNPC Public Relations and Media Director Mohammad Al-Ajmi told KUNA.

Al-Ajmi attributed the shut down to a technical failure in one of the lines of the high-pressure steam network which supplied the refinery with steam.

He said the shutting down of units started at 08:00 p.m. and the process would last for 16 hours.

Following that, he explained, the refinery would be shut down for four days.

Al-Ajmi said the closure of the refinery was a precautionary measure and was in line with the emergency plan which aimed at securing safety of employees and facilities.

Shuaiba oil refinery is one of three affiliated to state-owned KNPCKNPC. Shuaiba, the oldest among the two others, refines 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Shuaiba was supposed to be retired by 2010 if the new refinery project is executed, but the delay of the new venture would keep the Shuaiba refinery working longer.

Kuwait is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

During its last meeting in Luanda, Angola, the oil organization maintained its official output at 24.5 million barrels per day.

(Source: KUNA)

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