KOC Celebrates the 80th Anniversary of Exporting Its First Crude Oil Shipment
Under the patronage and in the presence of CEO Ahmad Jaber Al-Eidan, KOC held a major celebration at the Ahmad Al Jaber Oil & Gas Exhibition to mark the 80th anniversary of Kuwait's first commercial crude oil export.
The event, also attended by the Company's Deputy CEOs, kicked off with a documentary highlighting the pivotal turning point in Kuwait's history: the export of the country's first commercial crude oil shipment from Mina Al Ahmadi on June 30, 1946, marking the beginning of Kuwait's economic renaissance.
The documentary also traced Kuwait's remarkable progress in oil production and exports, showcasing some of the country's most significant achievements over the decades.
In his address, CEO Ahmad Jaber Al-Eidan highlighted the significance of this historic milestone, describing it as a defining moment in Kuwait's modern history that ushered in a new era of development, prosperity, and nation-building.
Al-Eidan stated that since that day, KOC has carried a steadfast national responsibility to manage and develop the country's oil wealth, continuously enhance its operational capabilities, strengthen its national workforce, and adopt modern technologies. These efforts, he noted, have enabled the Company to support the national economy and reliably meet the needs of global energy markets.
During the ceremony, the CEO received a rare historical document, which was a copy of the original receipt issued for the export of Kuwait's first crude oil shipment. The document was presented by DCEO N&WK and Ag. DCEO S&EK Hamad Al-Zuwayer, along with Manager Export Operations Group, Abdulkarim Al-Motairi.
The celebration concluded with the CEO unveiling a commemorative plaque and writing a message in the Export Operations Group's commemorative Guest Book.
It is worth noting that on June 30, 1946, Kuwait officially celebrated the export of its first commercial crude oil shipment under the patronage and in the presence of the late Amir, Sheikh Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. During the ceremony, H.H. the Amir turned a symbolic silver wheel to signal the start of loading operations. The oil was loaded onto the British tanker British Fusilier via Kuwait's first offshore pipeline system for tanker loading. The vessel carried approximately 10,567 tons of crude oil, and the loading process took 11 hours and 13 minutes to complete.