Al-Faleh: Sustainability is an essential part of risk management
State Minister for Development and Sustainability, Dr. Reem Al-Faleh, stated that recent regional developments have shown that sustainability is no longer linked solely to protecting the environment and its resources, but has become an essential component of the state’s readiness and its capacity to manage risks and ensure the continuity of its vital sectors under all circumstances.
Speaking at a workshop organized by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) under the patronage of Minister of Oil Tariq Al-Roumi, aimed at reviewing crisis management, the integrated system for transporting hydrocarbons and waste, and mechanisms for controlling oil spills, Al-Faleh added that, based on this responsibility, the Council of Ministers had directed the Ministry of Development and Sustainability, in coordination 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 Risk Register, identifying eight major risks and their response pathways, with the aim of building a clear national picture of risks, defining responsibilities, and measuring readiness levels to address them. She noted that true readiness begins before a crisis occurs, through knowing, measuring, and preparing for the risk.
Al-Faleh emphasized that the oil sector holds a highly significant position within this framework, given the advanced expertise possessed by KPC and its subsidiaries in areas such as safety, waste management, handling hazardous materials, and responding to spills, accidents, and crises. She described these capabilities as a “national reserve” that can be built upon and leveraged at the state level.
She added 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, representing an opportunity to convert this accumulated expertise into practices that strengthen the environmental risk management system in Kuwait.
Al-Faleh clarified that the success of this workshop will not be measured solely by the information presented during it, but by how its outputs are translated into practical steps that enhance environmental protection and improve the efficiency of responses to risks and crises. She stated that sustainability is not just about protecting today’s resources, “but preparing for tomorrow’s risks and building a national system capable of confronting them.”
For his part, Chief Executive Officer of KPC, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Saud Al-Sabah, stated that environmental sustainability represents an integral part of the oil sector’s responsibility and mission, reaffirming the corporation’s commitment to supporting state efforts to address potential environmental pollution risks, particularly those related to oil sector operations.
In an opening address at the workshop, 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 in monitoring, tracking, and surveillance, which will undoubtedly contribute to building a more effective national system for responding to risks and protecting people, the environment, and vital infrastructure.
He underscored the importance of the workshop as a new milestone in a long history of cooperation between the oil sector and various state agencies, and as a practical translation of shared convictions. 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 integrated system for transporting hydrocarbons and waste, and mechanisms for controlling oil spills. He stated that the Kuwaiti oil sector has witnessed numerous experiences throughout its history that have contributed to building solid institutional expertise, enhancing its capacity to manage environmental crises and effectively handle emergencies, especially given the exceptional contemporary geopolitical conditions facing the country and the region.
