KUWAIT CITY, June 8: The Al-Zour refinery has been surpassing its nominal capacity of 615,000 barrels of oil per day, instilling confidence in its ability to consistently meet the demand for refined products, reports Al-Qabas daily. According to sources speaking to Med magazine, the facility has been operating above its nominal capacity for some time without encountering any issues. Stakeholders are reportedly pleased with its current performance. While the refinery has demonstrated the capability to produce more than 615,000 barrels per day, it is expected to typically operate below this level.

Another source cited by MEED noted that while the refinery can operate at higher levels, it is currently running below its nominal capacity. This is attributed to various factors, with the quality of the raw material being a key consideration. Heavy crude presents challenges in transporting large quantities. The Al-Zour refinery faced delays in its operational phase in 2023, including technical problems leading to the temporary closure of the second CDU in April.

Despite these challenges, the Kuwaiti Al-Zour refinery remains one of the largest in the Middle East and North Africa region. It produces gasoline, diesel, and kerosene in compliance with Euro 5 emission standards. The project, comprising five main engineering, procurement, and construction packages, achieved mechanical completion in 2021. However, factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to delays in the operational phase. In trading, the price of a barrel of Kuwaiti oil rose to $80.57 per barrel, while Brent crude futures reached $78.41 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude futures stood at $74.07 per barrel.