35th anniversary of extinguishing the last oil well in Kuwait after the invasion: An eternal national epic embodying Kuwaiti willpower

By Sara Al-Makhzouim (News Report) Kuwait, Nov 6 (KUNA) -- As the 35th anniversary of the extinguishing of the last burning oil well in Kuwait approaches, coinciding with November 6, 1991, this occasion emerges as an eternal historical milestone in the national memory and a symbol embodying the firm Kuwaiti will and its ability to overcome hardships and challenges, no matter how great. Following the brutal Iraqi invasion, Kuwait faced one of the largest environmental and economic disasters in modern history, when the hand of defeated criminality set fire to hundreds of oil wells in Kuwait, causing widespread devastation and severe repercussions affecting the environment, the economy, and daily life.

On this day in 1991, Kuwait celebrated the extinguishing of the last burning oil well in the Burgan field in the Ahmadi region, under the patronage and presence of the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God have mercy on him. This marked the culmination of tremendous efforts undertaken by specialized Kuwaiti teams and other friendly countries over several months to extinguish these wells and mitigate the consequences of one of the worst environmental disasters the world has witnessed.

The tragedy of the burning wells began on February 21, 1991, as the invading Iraqi forces retreated, taking various forms in the most important Kuwaiti oil field areas, including Ahmadi, Burgan, Al-Maqwa, Al-Manaqish, and Al-Wafra. These areas also witnessed what became known as oil lakes, which had extremely dangerous effects on the environment and human life.

The ignition of the wells was accompanied by widespread smoke and fire spreading in all directions, and the explosion of oil gathering centers connecting the wells to export terminals, further intensifying the region’s fire and destruction. Large quantities of fire residues (soot) fell on Kuwait, covering plants and buildings, leaving serious impacts on living organisms, including plants and animals. Additionally, the soot turned day into pitch-black darkness, while a drop in temperatures by approximately four degrees Celsius caused the death of a large number of marine creatures.

The invading Iraqi forces detonated 737 Kuwaiti oil wells before their withdrawal. Kuwait’s losses amounted to between 4 and 6 million barrels of crude oil per day, with daily losses estimated at around $120 million, excluding environmental and health damages.

The negative effects of these fires on oil facilities across various regions of the country were extensive, requiring a long period for rehabilitation. The material losses resulting from the fires affected the global economy for seven months.

The destructive effects of the burning wells did not stop at Kuwait’s borders but extended to several countries. Smoke from the wells reached Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, the Sultanate of Oman, and other countries in Central Asia, accompanied by black rains laden with oil and gas falling on these regions.

The Kuwaiti firefighting team, which took on the task of extinguishing the wells, earned the appreciation of specialized foreign teams and the world for its challenge, determination, and heroic role. Despite being a team with limited experience and expertise in this field, it contributed to extinguishing 41 wells. More than 10,000 people, distributed across 27 teams from various countries, participated in extinguishing the wells.

Following the liberation of Kuwait, efforts by various concerned authorities began to reconstruct the oil sector by establishing specialized committees to assess the damage inflicted on the sector’s facilities and determine appropriate solutions to address it and other resulting challenges, as well as to meet global market needs for Kuwaiti oil.

A large number of scientists and experts specializing in environmental affairs flocked to Kuwait to examine the repercussions of the fires. Seminars, conferences, and discussion panels were held in several countries to explore ways to save the environment and understand the future impacts of this disaster. The initial plans for rebuilding the oil sector and its diverse facilities were based on two primary objectives: extinguishing the oil wells as quickly as possible, and preparing certain wells for a rapid return to production while repairing some surface installations.

Efforts to extinguish the wells involved coordinating with approximately 30 global companies specializing in the reconstruction of oil facilities damaged by fires and other factors. Many companies with distinguished expertise in this field were engaged. The number of equipment pieces and vehicles participating in the firefighting operations for the burning wells reached about 5,800, constituting the second-largest non-military equipment fleet in the world and the largest fleet assembled in a single location.

The extinguishing of the last oil well was not merely the end of an environmental disaster, but a declaration of victory for willpower and determination, marking the beginning of a new phase of reconstruction and recovery. This epic endeavor embodied the convergence of national and international efforts, along with a spirit of sacrifice and resolve to restore the country’s vital economic lifeline.

Commemorating this national anniversary serves to recall one of the most prominent chapters of Kuwaiti resilience and to highlight the extraordinary efforts made to extinguish the fires. That period carried valuable lessons in solidarity, overcoming challenges, and achieving results, ensuring that the memory of extinguishing the last oil well remains a testament to Kuwait’s ability to rise from the heart of destruction and create hope anew. (End) S.M.