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Volume 42 Issue 2
The 17th Kuwait-Japan Joint Symposium
Upon a kind invitation by Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), OAPEC
Secretariat General took part in The 17th Kuwait-Japan Joint Symposium, held at KISR
headquarters, Ahmadi, Kuwait, on 2 and 3 February 2016, under the slogan “Advancement
in Petroleum Industries”. The event was co-organized by KISR, Kuwait National Petroleum
Company (KNPC), Japan Petroleum Institute (JIC), and Japan Cooperation Center,
Petroleum (JCCP).
Research and Technology
Department Manager Ms Suad
Al Radwan represented KNPC
during the symposium wherein
she talked about the significance
of the symposium and its role in
improving the petroleum industry
performance through exchanging
views and expertise on the latest
developments to enable the
industry face challenges. She
also introduced the oil refineries’
development projects in Kuwait
and their role in enhancing the
production of a cleaner fuel
to conform to international
standards.
The Commercial Attaché
at Japan’s Embassy in Kuwait,
Mr Hiroshi Etawa spoke on
behalf of Japan’s Ambassador to
Kuwait HE Takashi Ashiki. In his
speech, Mr Etawa pointed out to
the importance of cooperation
between Japanese and Kuwaiti
scientific institutes. He stressed
the strong and long ties between
the two countries especially in the
field of petroleum industry.
Mr Wataru Ueda, Chairman of
Japan Petroleum Institute, and Mr
Egy Hirooka, Senior CEO, JCCP,
also spoke in the opening session.
At the end of the symposium,
PRC Executive Manager at
KISR Ms Mina Marafi said that
the symposium came under the
8th KISR strategy, hailing the
close ties between Kuwait and
Japan in the field of scientific
and technological research. She
talked about the great challenges
facing crude oil specifications to
meet international criteria like
Euro-5.
The symposium comprised
four sessions, during which 10
papers were presented on:
• Technological developments
in the refining industry
to produce high quality
petroleum products
• Developments of
hydroprocessing and their
role in enabling oil refineries
meet criteria on cleaner fuel
• Corrosion, reasons, and
implications for refineries’
profitability and equipment
safety
• Preemptive measures on
corrosion at oil refineries and
best solutions to reduce its
negative impact
• Latest developments in
catalyst operations used in
refining and petrochemicals
industries.
A field visit to a pilot
distillation unit was part of the
symposium, where participants
were informed in detail about
the specifications, benefits, and
aspects of using such units.
OAPEC Secretariat General
was represented by Dr Samir Al
Qara’esh, Director, Technical
Affairs Department, and Engineer
Nasif Mekki, Senior Refining
Expert, Technical Affairs
Department.