KUWAIT: Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Chairman of the Public Authority for Industry (PAI) Khalifa Al-Ajeel said on Monday that protecting the commercial and industrial system is a “national responsibility that requires concerted efforts.”
Minister Al-Ajeel emphasized in a statement to KUNA following an extensive inspection campaign in the south Amghara scrap yard, to “firmly deal with all violations and encroachments in accordance with legal frameworks where no one is above the law.”
Al-Ajeel confirmed the continuation of inspection campaigns as well until the desired goals are reached, foremost being is restoring order and discipline to the area and removing all violations and encroachments.
He affirmed the ministry and the PAI’s commitment to cooperating with relevant authorities to continue these campaigns to ensure a safe and organized industrial and commercial environment.
The campaign resulted in the seizure of several violations and closure of several non-compliant units in preparation for taking necessary legal action against their exploiters.
Participating in the campaign was General Fire Force (KFF) Chief Major General Talal Al-Roumi, along with several executive leaders from the PAI. — KUNA
KUWAIT: The General Secretariat of the Arab Energy Organization (AEO), formerly known as the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), on Tuesday launched the 51st edition of its Secretary General’s Annual Report for 2024. The report provides a comprehensive overview of key Arab and global developments in the energy sector, with a particular focus on oil and gas. Speaking during a ceremony held to mark the occasion, AEO Secretary General Jamal Al-Loughani highlighted the pivotal role played by member states in the global energy landscape. The event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Kuwait from the organization’s member states.
Al-Loughani noted that the release of this edition coincides with the organization’s 57th anniversary since its establishment in January 1968 — an important milestone in the history of joint Arab cooperation, particularly in the field of energy. He emphasized the organization’s sustained and effective presence in regional and international energy-related activities over the years. The report, Al-Loughani said, comes amid significant fluctuations in global oil markets, driven by a range of factors including geopolitical tensions, economic shifts, evolving demand patterns, and environmental challenges. He pointed to regional developments, especially in the Red Sea, which have disrupted oil trade routes and raised temporary concerns over supply security.
Secretary-General of the Arab Energy Organization, Jamal Al-Loughani
General Secretariat of the Arab Energy Organization on Tuesday launched the 51st edition of its Secretary General’s Annual Report for 2024. The report provides a comprehensive overview of key Arab and global developments in the energy sector, with a particular focus on oil and gas.
He also referred to ongoing sanctions on Russia and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has led to the redirection of Russian energy exports to Asia. Al-Loughani said that global oil demand growth had slowed considerably, reflecting a broader decline in global economic activity — especially in China, the world’s largest oil importer — due in part to rising electric vehicle adoption and severe weather-related disruptions in the United States.
The Secretary General praised the role of AEO member states in the OPEC+ alliance, noting their proactive approach in extending production cuts throughout 2024, which helped stabilize global oil markets. He revealed that OPEC’s crude and unconventional oil supplies declined by approximately 163,000 barrels per day compared to 2023, settling at around 32.4 million barrels per day. Meanwhile, supplies from non-OPEC producers rose by about 630,000 barrels per day to reach 70.2 million barrels per day.
Al-Loughani noted that AEO member states recorded 34 oil and gas discoveries in 2024, underlining the strategic importance of the Arab region in the current and future energy landscape. He said the first chapter of the report reviews key Arab and international energy developments and their impact on the economies of member states, in addition to market fundamentals such as supply, demand and oil reserves. The report also addresses policy trends and geopolitical influences.
The report further examines investment trends in energy transition technologies, including hydrogen as a future fuel, and provides updates on exploration and production, refining, petrochemicals, and gas industries. It also tracks environmental developments and climate change-related matters. Al-Loughani stressed that the key energy indicators in the report confirm the significant position of AEO member states in global markets. Proven crude oil reserves in AEO countries stood at around 713.4 billion barrels in 2024, accounting for 53 percent of the global total of 1,346 billion barrels. Natural gas reserves were estimated at approximately 55.7 trillion cubic meters, representing 26 percent of global reserves.
The average crude oil production of member states reached 21.6 million barrels per day in 2024, or roughly 24 percent of the global total of 88.7 million barrels per day. Marketed natural gas production amounted to 561 billion cubic meters, making up about 14 percent of the global total. On renewable energy, Al-Loughani noted that installed wind energy capacity in the Arab region reached 5.2 gigawatts, representing 0.5 percent of global capacity, while solar power installations exceeded 17 gigawatts, representing 1.1 percent. Hydroelectric power capacity reached 9.15 gigawatts, also constituting 0.5 percent of the global total.
He added that the refining industry in member states includes 54 refineries, with a combined capacity of 10.47 million barrels per day — around 10.9 percent of the world’s total refining capacity of 96.23 million barrels per day. In the natural gas sector, Al-Loughani reported that member states exported 185.9 billion cubic meters in 2024, accounting for 16.3 percent of global exports. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity reached 120.3 million tons per year by the end of 2024, representing 24.6 percent of the world’s total LNG production capacity. — KUNA
CAIRO: The 56th regular session of the Arab Permanent Committee for Human Rights commenced on Monday with the participation of Kuwait and representatives from Arab states concerned with human rights affairs. In his opening address, Ahmed Maghari, supervisor of the Human Rights Department at the League of Arab States, underscored the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling it a stark indicator of the region’s human rights reality. “We cannot speak of the state of human rights without acknowledging the catastrophic conditions faced by our brothers in Gaza, where securing the most basic necessities has become a matter of survival,” he said. Maghari described the ongoing Zionist aggression in Gaza as a profound moral and humanitarian challenge, noting that the Palestinian people continue to endure daily suffering under constant bombardment, displacement and destruction. He lamented the international community’s continued inaction in the face of clear violations of international law and human rights norms. “The occupying power persists in defying international legitimacy and the decisions of the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the International Court of Justice,” he said.
The 56th session of the Arab Permanent Committee on Human Rights kicks off, chaired by Kuwait.- KUNA photos
Held at a time of mounting regional tensions, the session comes amid escalating challenges that directly affect fundamental human rights. Maghari highlighted the Committee’s historic role since its establishment in 1968 in developing the Arab human rights framework both legally and practically, while also fostering cooperation with regional and international partners. He expressed hope that the session would yield effective recommendations to help confront the pressing challenges in the region. He pointed to the rise of conflicts and violence globally, along with the resulting serious human rights violations, as major concerns.
Emerging issues such as the intersection of human rights with climate change, artificial intelligence, and the spread of alien ideologies that undermine human dignity were also noted. “In light of these challenges, we must reinforce our solidarity and collective action to enhance peace, stability, and the security of our societies,” Maghari added. The two-day session, chaired by Ambassador Talal Al-Mutairi, Chairman of the Arab Permanent Committee for Human Rights, will review the General Secretariat’s report on the implementation of previous recommendations up to the 55th session.
Discussions will also focus on Zionist violations in occupied Arab territories, the plight of Arab prisoners and detainees in Zionist prisons, and the issue of the bodies of Palestinian and Arab martyrs held in so-called “numbered cemeteries.” Other agenda items include the Arab Charter on Human Rights and preparations for Arab Human Rights Day, which will be observed on March 16, 2026. Kuwait is represented at the meeting by a delegation led by Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah.— KUNA
PM receives Indian Ambassador | Kuwait Times Newspaper
Army Chief highlights importance of National Security Network project
MEW gets CAPT approval to link external sites, NDCC
Domestic Worker in Critical Condition After Reported Suicide Attempt
DGCA of Kuwait and Japan Take Off on a New Chapter of Aviation Cooperation
Human Rights Committee session begins with focus on Gaza, regional challenges
Cops Catch Fleeing Suspect With Narcotics, Booze, And Big Cash
The hidden drivers behind high prices in Kuwait
