News Summary Report November 16, 2020
External Affairs
Kuwait FM says no specific date set for the GCC Summit yet
Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Acting Minister of Information Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Al-Nasser Al-Sabah stated that the exact date of the next GCC summit has not yet been definitely decided. The minister made the remarks on the sidelines of his visit to the Palestinian embassy yesterday to offer condolences on the dealth of the Secretary General of the PLO Executive Committee and Chief Palestinian Negotiator with Israel Mr. Saeb Erekat. He also told reporters that Kuwait was and is still continuing its efforts to heal the Gulf rifts according to the instructions of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed.
The minister expressed appreciation to the United States and the other countries backing Kuwait’s mediation efforts to end the crisis. Sheikh Dr. Ahmed said that he will visit the United States later this month to take part at the meetings of the fourth Kuwait-US Strategic Dialogue which will address issues relating to cooperation between the two sides in the political, economics, educational and academic fields. Asked whether the current visit to Kuwait by Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry covered the issue of Egypt’s water security concerns, the minister affirmed Kuwait’s support to Egypt’s national security ting the talks between the two sides covered a wide range of issues of mutual concern to both sides. Al-Qabas
Egypt FM hands Kuwait Amir invitation to visit Cairo
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry handed an invitation from President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi to visit his country to His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Sunday. Kuwait is keen to boost its relations with Egypt, and for solidarity, cooperation and joint efforts to continue on the Arab and international spectrums, the minister told reporters during an official visit. He also expressed optimism that consensus on viewpoints remains the prevalent feature of bilateral relations, and that new areas of cooperation be formulated. Asked about the two countries' bilateral relations, he said they have always been "distinguished and characterized by strength and durability," in spite of some "individual transgressions" that "do not express the reality of the strength of relations." "The two governments work continuously to correct such transgressions, to contain them and to deal with them with seriousness and effectiveness," he underlined, adding they have "absolutely no effect" on ties.
These actions are employed by certain parties, he alluded, that "try to spread discord and create an artificial burden on relations. "Therefore, there is complete transparency and continuous communication at the embassy and foreign ministry levels to put matters in the right order." Separately, Shoukry said he valued Kuwait's position on "preserving Egypt's water security... in a way that achieves the interests of the three countries, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia" in regards to the Nile dam dispute. President Al-Sisi views the "national security of the Gulf is an integral part of Egyptian national security and vice versa," he added. Regarding the reopening of skies and return of flights between Cairo and Kuwait, he said both discussed dealing with the implications of the coronavirus pandemic, and the two governments' measures to protect their nationals in light of the presence of a large Egyptian community in Kuwait. "Each country has its own considerations, and we respect all Kuwaiti measures to provide protection to its nationals, to reassure them, and to ensure their safety," he said, adding both will discuss the appropriate date for the resumption of direct flights. All Newspapers
Domestic Affairs
Kuwaitis willing to travel abroad need to obtain health insurance with coverage for Covid-19
The Consular Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised all Kuwaitis, who intend to travel to other countries, to obtain health insurance that includes coverage for the treatment of coronavirus, reports Al-Rai daily. The department clarified that the diplomatic missions of the State of Kuwait abroad will not be able to cover the cost of treating citizens infected with the virus. The department added this is in compliance with the decision that the Cabinet issued on June 18, 2020 which explained the difficulty and seriousness of global health conditions; in addition to requiring Kuwaitis to sign a pledge regarding coronavirus prior to their trip to other countries. All Newspapers
Economy
KOC set to ink deal for drilling towers supply
Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) is putting the final touches to sign contracts for the supply of 31 drilling towers with nine local and international companies at a total cost of KD 230 million (equivalent to $750 million), reports Al-Anba daily quoting a reliable source. The source disclosed the contracts will be valid for five years;
indicating this is part of the company’s efforts to expand its drilling, exploration and development operations in line with the 2040 strategy, as well as to implement
an intensive program to develop newly explored oil reservoirs. He said the two local companies are Burgan Wells Drilling and Kuwaiti Drilling Company (KDC);
while the seven international companies are represented by Chinese company Sinopec, Jerry, Aleph, Egyptian company Sino Tharwa Drilling and Schlumberger.
He revealed that KOC intends to drill about 400 new crude oil wells and non- associated gas upon delivery of the new towers, increasing the total number of towers in the country to 150 – 80 for drilling and 70 for repairing wells. He said the number of repair operations exceeds 1,100 annually. Last year, KOC completed exploratory drilling operations that contributed to the realization of its strategic objectives in terms of increasing reserves. The company also succeeded in extracting oil from the third Burgan layer using modern technology for reading layers of the earth, especially the water between these layers. The modern technology keeps water as far as possible in order to increase production; lessen the drilling of experimental wells; reduce the cost by KD 190,000; and produce 2,340 barrels of oil per day. It maintains water level to three percent of the total production compared to other similar wells, which produce an average of 800 barrels of oil per day, the source added. According to the source, KOC is keen on increasing the country’s crude oil production capacity from 3.15 million barrels per day to four million barrels by the year 2040. Al-Anba
