35th Anniversary of Extinguishing the Last Oil Well: Kuwait Recalls One of the Most Prominent Pages of Its Resilience Against the Brutal Aggression

Kuwait today commemorates one of the most prominent chapters of its resilience in the face of the brutal aggression, marking the 35th anniversary of the extinguishing of the last burning oil well, which coincides with November 6, 1991. This occasion represents an eternal historical milestone in the national memory and a symbol embodying Kuwait’s firm 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, as the hand of defeated criminality set fire to hundreds of oil wells in Kuwait, causing widespread destruction 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 Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may his soul rest in peace. This marked the culmination of tremendous efforts undertaken by specialized Kuwaiti teams and other friendly countries over several months to extinguish those 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 areas of Kuwait’s oil fields, 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, as well as the explosion of oil gathering centers connecting the wells to export terminals, further intensifying the region’s flames and destruction.

Large quantities of fire debris (soot) fell on Kuwait, covering plants and buildings, leaving serious impacts on living organisms, including plants and animals. The situation turned day into pitch-black darkness, while the drop in temperatures by approximately four degrees Celsius caused the death of a large number of marine creatures.

The invading Iraqi forces blew up 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 economic losses estimated at around $120 million, excluding environmental and health damages.

The negative effects of those 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 well fires 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 nations.

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 among 27 teams from various countries, participated in extinguishing the wells.

Following the liberation of Kuwait, efforts by various relevant authorities began to reconstruct the oil sector. Specialized committees were established to assess the damage inflicted on the sector’s facilities and to determine appropriate solutions for addressing it and confronting other resulting challenges, in addition to meeting 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 panel discussions were held in several countries to discuss ways to save the environment and assess the future impacts of this disaster.

The initial plans for rebuilding the oil sector and its diverse facilities focused on two primary objectives: extinguishing the oil wells as quickly as possible, and preparing some wells for a rapid return to production while repairing certain surface facilities.

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 around 5,800 units, representing 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; it marked a declaration of victory for willpower and determination, and the beginning of a new phase of reconstruction and recovery.

Commemorating this national anniversary serves to recall one of the most prominent chapters of Kuwaiti resilience and to highlight the exceptional efforts made to extinguish the fires. That period carried valuable lessons in solidarity, challenge, and achievement, 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 forge new hope.