KUWAIT CITY, March 17: The Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC) is set to embark on studies to explore the potential development of a urea plant linked to the Al-Zour refinery, incorporating carbon capture technology (CCT), reports Al- Qabas daily. According to MEED magazine, the contract for feasibility and pilot studies for the plant is slated to be tendered in April, with a projected duration of one year. The studies will be conducted through lump-sum contracting.

These studies will investigate the feasibility of utilizing carbon dioxide (CO2) sources from the Al-Zour refinery complex, primarily the flue gas from the HPU and tail gas from the PSA, for urea production. The proposed factory, under consideration for development, will also harness solar energy for hydrogen and nitrogen production, aligning with the company’s annual plan. KIPIC anticipates that this project will contribute to the decarbonization of both the Al-Zour refinery and the planned Al-Zour petrochemical complex, thereby enhancing the value through small-scale urea production.

Additionally, the feasibility study, expected to span two months, will be followed by a pilot study lasting between six to eight months. While the budget for the feasibility study is estimated at 100 thousand dinars ($325 thousand), the budget for the pilot study remains undetermined pending the outcomes of the feasibility study. Originally slated for the period 2023-2024, the commencement of studies has been rescheduled to the period 2024-2025. Moreover, carbon dioxide from the Al-Zour facilities will be utilized in enhanced oil recovery efforts, aimed at increasing pressure and production in oil reserves. KIPIC also mentioned that Kuwait Petroleum Corporation is actively identifying additional fields in Kuwait suitable for enhanced oil recovery utilizing carbon dioxide from the planned Al-Zour petrochemical facility.