KPC—outside the political bubble
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation is expanding its global footprint as it targets increased domestic oil and gas capacity
When KPC's chief executive Nizar al-Adsani stood up to address Petroleum Economist's third Energy Strategy Forum in Kuwait City in January he began with an apology on behalf of the country's oil minister, Bakheet al-Rashidi. The latter, he said, "has to be at the National Assembly [parliament] for a vote of confidence on one of our ministers". The oil minister's absence from the conference and the KPC boss' presence illustrate the differences between the two wings of Kuwait's energy management. The minister is caught up in the bare-knuckled hurly-burly of Kuwaiti politics—there have been no fewer than 21 oil ministers since 1980—while the head of the state energy firm isn't directly involved
Also in this section
2 April 2026
Alongside a rapid continued build-out of renewables, China’s latest five-year plan stresses the value of domestic hydrocarbon production for energy security and calls for increased Russian gas imports
2 April 2026
The government is taking important steps to revive domestic production, lift investment and benefit from the geopolitical crisis even if more needs to be done in the longer term
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
