Tamadher Al-Sabah: 'Zour Facilities' Enhance Energy Supply Reliability and Support Electricity Needs
“Oil” organizes virtual panel on its role during peak summer
The Ministry of Oil organized a virtual panel discussion yesterday, September 2, 2026, titled “Importing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Meet Power Plants’ Needs During the Summer Peak and the Role of the Zour Facilities in Covering the Rising Demand for Natural Gas in the State of Kuwait.” The session featured Abdullah Al-Ajmi, Head of the Gas Operations Team at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), and Salah Bahzad, Head of the Operations Department at KPC. Participants included staff from the Technical Services Affairs Sector, as well as guests from the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, the Public Authority for Environment, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), the General Administration of Information Technology, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, the Central Statistical Bureau, and members of the media.
Operational Capacity
At the outset of the panel, Sheikh Tamadur Khalid Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Director of Public Relations and Petroleum Media at the Ministry of Oil, emphasized that the Zour LNG import facilities play a crucial role within the State of Kuwait’s energy supply system. Their operational capabilities provide the necessary flexibility for supply continuity and support the steady provision of fuel to power and water plants, particularly during the summer months when demand rises sharply.
She noted that the importance of the Zour facilities stems from the integration of their operational system, which begins with receiving LNG supplies from global markets and providing strategic storage capacity, proceeds through regasification, and culminates in pumping gas according to consumer network requirements. This process supports supply reliability and enhances the ability to meet the demands of the summer peak season.
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She added that the Ministry of Oil is keen to support projects and initiatives related to the energy sector that contribute to meeting the country’s needs and keeping pace with development requirements. She pointed out that the Zour facilities offer a model highlighting the importance of energy infrastructure in linking LNG supplies from global markets with local market needs, thereby serving the requirements of power and water plants and supporting the flexibility of the supply system.
Meeting Energy Needs
During the presentation, Abdullah Al-Ajmi and Salah Bahzad discussed the role of the Zour LNG import facilities in meeting energy demands during the summer peak. They explained that the facilities operate as a strategic operational system that ensures fuel continuity for power and water plants and enhances supply flexibility. This is achieved by providing a flexible global source of natural gas, maintaining a strategic reserve that boosts consumer network reliability, regasifying LNG, and pumping it according to network requirements. Additionally, operational readiness during the summer peak is maintained through scheduled maintenance activities.
They outlined the operational capabilities of the Zour facilities, stating that the site includes eight LNG storage tanks, each with a capacity of 225,000 cubic meters, bringing the total storage capacity to 1.8 million cubic meters. The annual throughput capacity stands at 22 million tons, with a supply capacity reaching 3,000 billion British Thermal Units (BTUs).
These capabilities enable the Zour facilities to support local supply for up to 12 days at maximum, without receiving incoming shipments, based on design and operational parameters at peak capacity.
From Shipment to Network
The presentation also addressed the end-to-end supply chain, from “shipment to grid,” highlighting that the Al Zour facility serves as a vital link between global liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies and national gas grid requirements during peak demand periods. This process begins with the arrival of LNG carriers from global markets, followed by reception via marine jetties and unloading systems. The gas is then stored in high-capacity cryogenic tanks before being regasified through vaporization into natural gas, which is subsequently supplied to consumers and power plants.
Through this integrated system, the Al Zour facilities act as a critical bridge between global LNG supplies and national gas grid needs when demand surges.
“Summer Peak Challenge”
Under the “Summer Peak Challenge” theme, the presentation emphasized that fuel reliability for power and water plants is central to operational readiness. Summer typically sees a sharp rise in electricity and water demand, underscoring the importance of stable gas supplies in ensuring continuous service.
These requirements are managed through flexibility in receiving global shipments according to market needs, maintaining reserves backed by strategic storage capacity capable of absorbing supply fluctuations, and enabling rapid response by instantly adjusting injection volumes to align with consumer grid requirements.
The monthly gas demand chart for 2025 clearly illustrates seasonal demand patterns. Demand stood at 1,000 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) in January, dropped to 959 million in February, then rose to 1,174 million in March, 1,487 million in April, and 1,750 million in May. As summer months approached, demand climbed to 2,020 MMscf/d in June, peaking annually at 2,100 million in July. It then recorded 2,071 million in August and 1,971 million in September, before declining to 1,609 million in October, 1,107 million in November, and 1,090 MMscf/d in December.
The presentation also highlighted key operational indicators and achievements recorded up to 2026. During this period, Al Zour facilities received 445 tankers, handling the equivalent of 67 million cubic meters of LNG, while the volume of gas injected reached approximately 1,263,000 million standard cubic feet.
