The KNPC refining subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) is pressing ahead with a major project to increase output from its two operating refineries. But delays to the clean fuels upgrade project mean that the expansion work is unlikely to be completed until the second half of 2020.

KNPC shut down its aging 200,000 b/d capacity Shuaiba refinery at the end of March 2017, leaving Kuwait with just 736,000 b/d capacity: 466,000 b/d Mina al-Ahmadi and the adjacent 270,000 b/d Mina Abdullah plant. Throughput at the pair was just 630,000 b/d at the time (see chart 1). (CONTINUED - 833 WORDS)