Minister of Development: Sustainability is a Fundamental Part of State Readiness, Risk Management, and Ensuring Continuity of Vital Sectors

Kuwait City, September 23 (KUNA) -- State Minister for Development and Sustainability 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 an essential component of a state’s readiness and capacity to manage risks and ensure the continuity of its vital sectors under all circumstances.

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

Dr. Al-Faleh added that, in light of this responsibility, the Council of Ministers had directed the Ministry of Development and Sustainability to coordinate with relevant government entities to monitor the national readiness level for dealing with potential environmental risks. She explained that the ministry has worked on preparing the National Environmental Risks Register, identifying eight main risks and their response pathways. This initiative aims to build a clear national picture of risks, define responsibilities, and measure readiness levels for addressing them. She emphasized that true readiness begins before a crisis occurs, through risk identification, assessment, and preparation.

She affirmed that the oil sector holds a highly significant position within this framework, given the advanced expertise possessed by KPC and its subsidiaries in safety, waste management, hazardous materials handling, and response to spills, accidents, and crises. She described this expertise as a "national reserve" that can be leveraged and utilized at the state level.

Dr. Al-Faleh noted that the importance of the workshop lies in showcasing best practices in waste management, tracking and supervising transport 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. She clarified that the success of the workshop would not be measured solely by the information presented, but by how its outputs translate into practical steps that enhance environmental protection and improve response efficiency to risks and crises. She stressed that sustainability is not just about protecting today’s resources, but also about preparing for tomorrow’s risks and building a national system capable of confronting them.

The State Minister for Development and Sustainability thanked KPC and its subsidiaries for organizing the workshop and for their continuous cooperation in supporting the state’s efforts in environmental protection, sustainability, and crisis readiness.

For his part, KPC CEO Sheikh Nawaf Al-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 state efforts in addressing potential environmental pollution risks, particularly those related to oil sector operations.

In his opening address, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah said that key operational axes include enhancing the speed of reporting environmental incidents, continuously updating emergency plans, and utilizing modern technologies for monitoring, tracking, and surveillance. These measures will undoubtedly contribute to building a more effective national system for responding to risks and protecting people, the environment, and vital infrastructure.

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, reflecting shared convictions in practice. He noted that addressing challenges requires the exchange of expertise to serve Kuwait and enhance its sustainability.

On his part, Abdullah Al-Ayyar, Deputy Managing Director for Sustainability at KPC, outlined the workshop’s objectives, which focus on crisis management, the integration of the hydrocarbon and waste transportation system, and mechanisms for controlling oil spills.

In his speech, Al-Ayyar noted that the Kuwaiti oil sector has experienced numerous incidents throughout its history, which have contributed to building deep institutional expertise. This has enhanced the sector’s capacity to manage environmental crises and effectively handle emergencies, especially given the exceptional current geopolitical conditions in the country and the region.

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

The workshop included discussions on several key topics, including an overview of KPC’s approach to crisis management, a review of KNPC’s historical journey in combating oil spills and managing waste, and readiness and response to marine oil spills at Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

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

The workshop saw broad participation from government entities involved in environmental risk management. Each presentation was followed by an open discussion and Q&A session, allowing attendees to exchange views and expertise. (End) m.a