Minister of Development: Preparing the National Environmental Risk Register and Identifying Eight Key Risks and Response Pathways

State Minister for Development and Sustainability Affairs, Dr. Reem Al-Faleh, stated that recent regional developments have demonstrated that sustainability is no longer limited to environmental protection and resource conservation, but has become a fundamental component of national readiness, risk management capabilities, and the assurance of continuity for vital sectors under various circumstances.

Dr. Al-Faleh made these remarks during a workshop organized by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) under the patronage of Oil Minister Tariq Al-Rumi on Wednesday at the Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) theater. The workshop aimed to review crisis management, the integration of hydrocarbon and waste transportation systems, and mechanisms for controlling oil spills.

Dr. Al-Faleh added that, in light of this responsibility, the Council of Ministers has tasked the Ministry of Development and Sustainability with coordinating with relevant government entities to monitor the level of national readiness to address potential environmental risks.

She explained that the ministry has worked on preparing the National Register of Environmental Risks, identifying eight key risks and their response pathways. This effort aims to build a clear national picture of risks, define responsibilities, and measure readiness levels to address them. She emphasized that true readiness begins before a crisis occurs, through identifying, measuring, and preparing for hazards.

Dr. Al-Faleh affirmed that the oil sector holds a position of paramount importance within this framework, given the advanced expertise possessed by KPC and its subsidiaries in safety, waste management, handling hazardous materials, and responding to spills, accidents, and crises. She noted that this expertise constitutes a "national asset" that can be leveraged and built upon at the state level.

She added that the significance of the workshop lies in reviewing best practices in waste management, tracking and monitoring transportation vehicles, and responding to marine spills and crises. This presents an opportunity to transform accumulated expertise into practices that strengthen the environmental risk management system in Kuwait.

Dr. Al-Faleh clarified that the success of this workshop will not be measured solely by the information presented today, but by the extent to which its outcomes are translated into practical steps that enhance environmental protection and improve the efficiency of response to risks and crises. She stated that sustainability is not only about protecting today’s resources, "but also about preparing for tomorrow’s risks and building a national system capable of addressing them."

The State Minister for Development and Sustainability Affairs extended her thanks to KPC and its subsidiaries for organizing the workshop and for their continuous cooperation in supporting the state’s efforts in the fields of environment, sustainability, and crisis readiness.

For his part, KPC Chief Executive Sheikh Nawaf Saud Al-Nasser Al-Sabah stated that environmental sustainability is an integral part of the oil sector’s responsibility and mission. He affirmed the corporation’s commitment to supporting the state’s efforts to address potential environmental pollution risks, particularly those related to oil sector operations.

Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah, in his opening address to the workshop, noted that the axes related to oil sector operations include enhancing the speed of reporting environmental incidents, continuously updating emergency plans, and leveraging modern technologies in monitoring, tracking, and surveillance. He stated that these measures will undoubtedly contribute to building a more effective national system for responding to risks and protecting people, the environment, and vital facilities.

He emphasized the importance of the workshop as a new milestone in a long history of cooperation between the oil sector and various state entities, and as a practical translation of shared convictions. He explained that addressing challenges requires the exchange of expertise to serve Kuwait and enhance its sustainability.

For his part, Abdullah Al-Ayar, Deputy Managing Director for Sustainability at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), outlined the objectives of the workshop, which focused on crisis management, the integration of hydrocarbon and waste transportation systems, and mechanisms for controlling oil spills.

In his address, Al-Ayar noted that the Kuwaiti oil sector has, throughout its history, accumulated numerous experiences that have contributed to building robust institutional expertise, thereby strengthening its capacity to manage environmental crises and respond effectively to emergencies, particularly in light of the current exceptional geopolitical conditions affecting the country and the region.

He added that the workshop is grounded in lessons learned over the past decades and aims to continue developing systems and operational procedures, while reinforcing a culture of readiness, coordination, and collaborative action among the relevant entities.

In this context, the workshop featured discussions on several key themes. These included an overview of KPC’s approach to crisis management; a review of National Petroleum Company (NPC)’s historical journey in combating oil spills and managing waste; and Kuwait Oil Company’s (KOC) readiness and response protocols for marine oil spills.

The fourth theme of the workshop covered the vehicle tracking system (GPS) and the electronic fuel level measurement system used in transportation operations. The final theme focused on the mechanisms for tracking and monitoring the speed of vehicles transporting waste in the northern and western regions of KOC.

The workshop witnessed extensive participation from government entities involved in environmental risk management. Following each presentation, an open discussion session was held, allowing attendees to exchange views and share experiences.