Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KUWAIT918
2003-03-16 04:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

KUWAIT OIL SITREP 3/13/03

Tags:  EPET KU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000918 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/ESC AND NEA/ARP
TREASURY FOR OASIA
USDOC FOR 4520/MAC/AME
DOE FOR IE - L. COBURN AND C. WASHINGTON

E.O. 12958: DECL: X5, X6
TAGS: EPET KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT OIL SITREP 3/13/03

REF: KUWAIT 898

Classified By: DCM Frank C. Urbancic for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000918

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/ESC AND NEA/ARP
TREASURY FOR OASIA
USDOC FOR 4520/MAC/AME
DOE FOR IE - L. COBURN AND C. WASHINGTON

E.O. 12958: DECL: X5, X6
TAGS: EPET KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT OIL SITREP 3/13/03

REF: KUWAIT 898

Classified By: DCM Frank C. Urbancic for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D)


1. (C) A Senior KPC official informed Embassy late afternoon
of March 12 that Kuwaiti production reached 2.4 mmbd. The
source noted that Embassy should watch the newspapers on 3/13
for further details.


2. (U) Local press reports on March 13 quoted Nader
Al-Sultan, CEO of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, as saying
that Kuwait had raised production to its maximum capacity of
2.4 mmbd. He denied earlier reports that oil wells had been
shut in and said all wells and refineries would continue to
operate in spite of hostilities. Sultan told the Kuwait News
Agency (KUNA) that the maximum output would be maintained for
a brief period, but gave no specific time span. He added
that KPC has prepared several scenarios for war contingencies
with the aim to maintain production, exports and strategic
stock while protecting workers and facilities.


3. (C) The press reports note the inconsistency between
Sultan's remarks and March 4 remarks by KOC CEO Ahmed
Al-Arbeed, who told reporters earlier that Northern oilfields
would be closed in the event of hostilities, slashing the
countries output by up to 700,000 bpd (Reftel). A KPC source
told the Embassy that Arbeed had spoken out of turn, and had
been reprimanded for the statement.


4. (SBU) NOTE: Post intends to distibute sitreps such as this
via SIPRNet e-mail to interested readers. To be added to the
mailing list, send a request via SIPRNet e-mail to
SchwartzTPKuwait@state.sgov.gov.
JONES