Namar Al-Sabah: Study on Developing the Path for Joint Operations in the Divided Zone

The Kuwaiti-Saudi Joint Permanent Committee held its 120th meeting yesterday via video conferencing technology, attended by Sheikh Dr. Nimer Fahad Al-Malik Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Oil for the Kuwaiti side, and chaired by Eng. Mohammed Al-Ibrahim, Assistant Minister of Energy for the Saudi side, along with members from both Kuwaiti and Saudi delegations. The meeting discussed items on the agenda, in the context of monitoring the implementation of the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Government of the State of Kuwait and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Ministry of Oil stated that the meeting continued the Ministry’s efforts to implement the provisions of the MoU signed between the Government of the State of Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on December 24, 2019, which was approved under Law No. (2) of 2020, issued on January 29, 2020. This aims to enhance joint coordination and serve the strategic interests of both parties in the Divided Zone.

The Ministry clarified that the meeting reviewed the committee’s decisions from previous sessions and examined reports on petroleum operations in the land Divided Zone and the adjacent submerged Divided Zone. It also discussed strategic plans and current and future major projects, obstacles that might hinder plan implementation, the use of modern and advanced technologies in petroleum operations, environmental and safety projects, development plans, and the training of national workforce.

In this context, Deputy Minister of Oil Sheikh Dr. Nimer Fahad Al-Malik Al-Sabah stated that the committee discussed the progress report of the Kuwaiti-Saudi Joint Permanent Committee’s office. It approved the minutes regarding tax matters in the Divided Zone and the submerged Divided Zone. The committee also reviewed a study on developing the dedicated route for joint operations in the Divided Zone and examined the outcomes of a meeting between the ad hoc technical subcommittee and the operations of the Neutral Zone Joint Operations to discuss the detailed reservoir development plan.

The Ministry noted that the committee reviewed updates to the operations agreements for the Joint Khafji Operations and the Joint Neutral Zone Operations. It also discussed the audit of the estimated budget for the fiscal year 2027, as part of its efforts to enhance the efficiency of joint work and support the sustainability of petroleum operations in the Divided Zone.

The Ministry of Oil mentioned that the Kuwaiti-Saudi Joint Permanent Committee expressed its pride in the level of cooperation between the two brotherly countries in managing and investing shared natural resources, emphasizing the importance of continuing coordination and joint work to achieve optimal utilization of natural wealth and ensure its sustainability, serving the interests of both countries and future generations.

Sheikh Dr. Nimer Fahad Al-Malik Al-Sabah stressed the importance of holding Joint Permanent Committee meetings regularly, given their pivotal role in monitoring petroleum operations, overcoming challenges, and supporting the implementation of strategic projects in the Divided Zone. He expressed his appreciation for the positive spirit of cooperation prevailing in the committee’s work.

The head of the Kuwaiti delegation thanked Eng. Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Ibrahim, Assistant Minister of Energy, commending the close cooperation and continuous coordination between the Ministry of Oil of the State of Kuwait and the Ministry of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He highlighted the tangible facilitations provided by both sides to streamline petroleum business in the operations of the Joint Neutral Zone and Joint Khafji Operations, ensuring the safety of workers in operating companies, which include Aramco Gulf Operations Company, Saudi Arabian Chevron, and the Kuwait Gulf Oil Company. These efforts contribute to raising the efficiency of joint operations and achieving the strategic interests of the two brotherly countries.

The Ministry of Oil concluded its statement by affirming that the Kuwaiti-Saudi Joint Permanent Committee, established under the 1965 agreement on the partition of the Neutral Zone, continues to play a vital role in facilitating procedures for workers, studying permits, contracts, and concessions related to the Divided Zone, and monitoring supplementary agreements. These include the 2000 agreement on the partition of the submerged zone and the MoU on enhanced recovery in the Divided Zone, signed on December 24, 2019. The Ministry also praised the continuous efforts of national cadres and executive leadership on both sides, which have significantly contributed to implementing operational plans and achieving common goals.

The committee concluded its meeting by discussing the date of the next session, as outlined in the agenda.