Kuwait's new dynamism
The country wants to shake off its reputation for delays and energy sector in-fighting
A handful of long-awaited upstream successes are on the cards for Kuwait this year, reflecting a new sense of determination permeating through its oil industry. Both Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and the oil ministry would certainly benefit from a new reputation of efficiency, rather than bureaucratic delays. Kuwait's voice within Opec is becoming increasingly influential. In March, the country's new oil minister, Essam al-Marzouk, called for an extension to the six-month production cuts agreement negotiated in November. Kuwait is also chairing the joint ministerial monitoring committee—the group responsible for monitoring compliance rates to output cuts. Marzouk's appointment last Dece
Also in this section
4 March 2026
The US president has repeatedly promised to lower gasoline prices, but this ambition conflicts with his parallel aim to increase drilling and could be upended by his war against Iran
4 March 2026
With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed following US-Israel strikes and Iran’s retaliatory escalation, Fujairah has become the region’s critical pressure release valve—and is now under serious threat
3 March 2026
The killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in US–Israeli strikes marks the most serious escalation in the region in decades and a bigger potential threat to the oil market than the start of the Russia-Ukraine crisis
2 March 2026
A potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following the escalating US-Iran conflict risks disrupting Qatari LNG exports that underpin global gas markets, exposing Asia and other markets to sharp price spikes, cargo shortages and renewed reliance on dirtier fuels






