Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) was established
in 1960 as a joint venture between the State of Kuwait and
public shareholders, to exploit Kuwait’s share of what
was rapidly becoming an international Industry.
In 1975, KNPC became a fully State owned company, and in
1980, a subsidiary of the newly formed Kuwait Petroleum
Corporation. It was assigned to handle oil-refining operation,
gas liquefaction activities as well as supplying gasoline,
gas oil, kerosene and lube oil to the national consumer
marketplace. KNPC also provides the Ministry of Electricity
and Water with gas oil and heavy fuel oil for local power
plants.
Following the restructuring of the Kuwait oil sector in 1980,
KNPC took over the management of Mina Al-Ahmadi Refinery in addition
to its Shuaiba Refinery and Mina Abdulla Refinery, which was,
transferred to KNPC in 1978.
Over the course of the decade, Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery was modernised
to produce the environmentally approved low sulphur fuel oil used
by the country’s power stations, refineries, petrochemical
plants and heavy industry. The quality of refined products was
also upgraded.
As for the petroleum products distribution network, KNPC operates
over 98 filling stations in various parts of Kuwait
