Oil: Zour facilities play a key role in importing LNG within the country's energy supply system

The Ministry of Oil organized a virtual panel discussion titled “Importing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Meet Power Plants’ Needs During the Summer Peak Period and the Role of the Al-Zour Facilities in Covering the Rising Demand for Natural Gas in the State of Kuwait.” The session featured presentations by Eng. Abdullah Al-Ajmi, Head of the Gas Operations Team at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), and Eng. Salah Bahzad, Head of the Operations Department at KPC. Participants included staff from the Technical Services Affairs Sector, as well as guests from the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, the Public Authority for Environment, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), the General Administration of Information Technology, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, the Central Statistical Bureau, and members of the media.

At the outset of the discussion, Sheikh Tamadur Al-Khalid, Director of Petroleum Public Relations and Media at the Ministry of Oil, emphasized that the Al-Zour LNG import facilities play a crucial role within Kuwait’s energy supply system. Their operational capabilities provide the necessary flexibility for supply continuity and support the steady provision of fuel to power and water plants, particularly during the summer months when demand surges sharply.

She noted that the significance of the Al-Zour facilities stems from the integration of their operational system, which begins with receiving LNG shipments from global markets and providing strategic storage capacity, proceeds through regasification, and concludes with pumping the gas according to consumer network requirements. This process enhances supply reliability and strengthens the ability to handle the demands of the summer peak season.

She added that the Ministry of Oil is committed to supporting projects and initiatives in the energy sector that contribute to meeting the country’s needs and keeping pace with development requirements. She pointed out that the Al-Zour facilities serve as a model demonstrating the importance of energy infrastructure in linking global LNG supplies with local market needs, thereby serving the requirements of power and water plants and supporting the flexibility of the supply system.

During the presentation, Eng. Abdullah Al-Ajmi and Eng. Salah Bahzad discussed the role of the Al-Zour LNG import facilities in meeting energy needs during the summer peak. They explained that the facilities operate as a strategic operational system that ensures fuel continuity for power and water plants and enhances supply flexibility. This is achieved by providing a flexible global source of natural gas, maintaining a strategic reserve that boosts consumer network reliability, regasifying LNG, and pumping it according to network requirements. Operational readiness during the summer peak is maintained through scheduled maintenance activities.

They outlined the operational capacities of the Al-Zour facilities, stating that the complex includes eight LNG storage tanks, each with a capacity of 225,000 cubic meters, bringing the total storage capacity to 1.8 million cubic meters. The annual throughput capacity is 22 million tons, with a supply capacity of 3,000 billion British Thermal Units (BTUs). These capabilities enable the Al-Zour facilities to support local supply for up to 12 days without receiving new shipments, based on design and maximum operational capacity.

Through this system, the Al-Zour facilities act as a link between global LNG supplies and the national gas network when demand levels rise.

Under the theme “Summer Peak Challenge,” the presentation highlighted that fuel reliability for power and water plants is a central aspect of preparedness. Summer sees a sharp increase in electricity and water demand, underscoring the importance of stable gas supplies in maintaining service continuity. These requirements are managed through flexibility in receiving global shipments according to market needs, maintaining a reserve based on strategic storage capacity capable of absorbing supply fluctuations, and ensuring rapid response by instantly adjusting shipment volumes to align with consumer network requirements.

The monthly gas demand chart for 2025 clearly illustrates the impact of seasonal demand. Demand stood at 1,000 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) in January, dropped to 959 million in February, then rose to 1,174 million in March, 1,487 million in April, and 1,750 million in May. As summer months began, demand increased to 2,020 MMscf/d in June, peaking annually at 2,100 million in July. It then recorded 2,071 million in August and 1,971 million in September, before declining to 1,609 million in October, 1,107 million in November, and 1,090 MMscf/d in December.

The system also manages supply to the consumer network through continuous coordination and daily plan adjustments to respond rapidly to needs, alongside continuous monitoring, operation, and follow-up around the clock to ensure operational readiness.

The presentation also highlighted key operational indicators and achievements recorded up to 2026. The Al-Zour facilities received 445 tankers and took delivery of LNG equivalent to 67 million cubic meters. The volume of gas supplied reached approximately 1,263,000 million standard cubic feet.