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10/18/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/18/2021 02:04

Fire at Kuwait's Mina al-Ahmadi refinery: Update

Updates throughout

Kuwait's state-owned refiner KNPC said a fire broke out a "short while ago" at its 346,000 b/d Mina al-Ahmadi refinery.

Firefighters are dealing with a blaze at an atmospheric residue desulphurisation unit, which removes sulphur from fuel oil before it is upgraded into higher-quality products such as gasoline. Production and export operations have not been affected, and there are no injuries, KNPC said.

The incident comes less than a month since full operations began at KNPC's Clean Fuels Project (CFP). The project involved the upgrade and integration of the firm's Mina al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries.

It included increasing the combined capacity of the two refineries to 800,000 b/d from 736,000 b/d and starting production of ultra-low sulphur products that meet Euro 4 and 5 standards and specifications. The upgrade work at Mina al-Ahmadi was completed in April last year.

By Ieva Paldaviciute