MP queries oil spill – Speaker hails micro-licencing

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KUWAIT CITY, Aug 17: MP Khalid Al-Otaibi has submitted questions to Minister of Oil, Electricity and Water Issam Al- Marzouq about the oil spills and sources of leakage. He said that on Aug 11, 2017; the Environment Public Authority (EPA) received a report from the Coast Guard General Department stating it monitored the 100-meter oil spill opposite Ras Al-Zour.

He pointed out that EPA confirmed its coordination with the oil sector, particularly the teams from Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) and Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), to survey the area, determine magnitude of the spill and sources of leakage. Five days later, the Ministry of Oil announced discovery of another oil spill near the Officers Club in Messilah affirming the necessary measures have been taken to address the issue, he added. He also quoted the oil minister as saying, after the first oil spill, that there is a possibility the leakage was from an Iranian oil tanker.

He clarified this was before the publication of the minister’s statement: “We received a response from the Iranian Minister of Oil who said there are no leaks in pipes or reports of leaks from tankers in Iran. Neighboring countries are being contacted to inquire about any leak or news related to oil spills.” He demanded a detailed report on communications to find the source of leakage, measures taken in this regard, results of contacts with international agencies to obtain satellite images and accurate data to determine the source of oil spills, number of oil spills discovered in the last 12 months, contingency plan to deal with these leaks especially if proven they are harmful to the water and environment of Kuwait, losses incurred by the ministry due to oil spills in the last 12 months, leakage of harmful gases in the last 12 months, and results of tests on samples taken from oil spills in the last 12 months.

Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanim said the issuance of micro-enterprise licences is a step in the right direction; particularly in the implementation of economic reforms. Al-Ghanim disclosed one of the causes of inflation is lack of opportunities for young Kuwaitis to work in the private sector and improve their economic condition without resorting to the government.

He cited the delayed issuance of micro-enterprise licenses as one of the factors which hindered the establishment of companies. “In the past, we heard the government announcing that procedures for issuing a commercial license will be reduced from 60 days to two weeks.

Today, the period for establishing a company is shorter – from 90 days to three days only,” he added. He said the number of steps for issuing a license has also been reduced from 30 to four, while the required number of visits decreased from 14 to two visits. He hopes there will be many opportunities for Kuwaiti youths to exit from the government sector and establish their own businesses to improve their finances.

 

By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff

This news has been read 6673 times!

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