KNPC reshuffles security, firefighting & HSE leadership

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 26: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) Wadha Al-Khateeb confirmed the issuance of Administrative and Organizational Circular No. 30/2026 -- a well-planned initiative proving the dedication of the company to achieve the utmost operational efficiency and ongoing innovation in the oil refining industry, especially after its merger with Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC), which created new opportunities for growth and excellence.

The newspaper obtained a copy of the circular, which mandates new leadership transfers and appointments affecting the Security and Firefighting sector, as well as the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) sector. The circular, which was issued on Wednesday, was addressed to Deputy CEOs, department managers and team leaders, stipulating the transfer of Omar Ahmed Al-Mulhem to the position of Manager of the Security and Firefighting Department, reporting directly to the deputy CEO for Support Services, while Hamoud Saif Al-Rashoud was appointed Manager of the Health, Safety and Environment Department, reporting to the same deputy CEO.

The circular designates Sept 27 as the official date for the implementation of these organizational decisions in the relevant sectors, signaling the start of a new phase of productivity and operational and security excellence. Moreover, a source confirmed to the newspaper that the company took these decisions to improve operational performance, align with its ambitious aspirations and reinforce its fundamental pillars. This comes as a time the oil industry is undergoing rapid transformations, requiring high flexibility and renewed managerial mindset— one that ensures the company maintains its leading position locally and globally, while activating its role as a major refining and innovation powerhouse in the region and the world.

Through these vital structural changes, KNPC intends to inject young talent into important leadership and supervisory posts and utilize highly qualified national professionals to improve the work environment and modernize operational and technical mechanisms. This managerial approach fosters a renewed leadership mindset and the adoption of modern strategies that boost productivity and ensure adherence to the highest global standards of occupational and environmental safety. These appointments provide significant momentum for the expansion plans and megaprojects following the historic merger. By combining accumulated field expertise with an innovative and modern leadership, and focusing on advanced technological solutions in the refineries, the company aims to improve overall operational performance, guarantee the security of oil facilities and vital refineries in accordance with the highest international standards, and fulfill contemporary security and environmental requirements.

This move is in accordance with the longterm strategy of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), which prioritizes national talent in building a sustainable oil future and supporting the national economy. It is a crucial move, considering KNPC is spearheading the domestic refining sector— the lifeblood of the local oil industry. The company bears the responsibility of transforming extracted crude oil into products with high added economic value and solidifying the international standing of Kuwait as a reliable and secure global energy supplier. KNPC has excelled in covering all domestic needs for high-quality petroleum products and clean environmental fuel, supplying power and water generation plants and fuel stations throughout the country, while exporting advanced petroleum derivatives that meet the strictest global environmental standards. It plays a vital role in processing and liquefying natural gas associated with oil operations, thereby, providing cooking gas and clean liquefied gas for domestic consumption and export.

By Najeh Bilal Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff