03/03/2025
Share:
03/03/2025
Share:
Kuwait Petroleum International (Q8) strengthens global position with European expansion
KUWAIT CITY, March 2: After acquiring the companies ‘Agriferr’ and ‘Arma’, which specialize in the production of biogas, biomethane and bio liquefied natural gas in Italy; Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI) is now aiming to expand the distribution of its petroleum derivatives throughout Europe. Reliable sources told the newspaper that KPI intends to increase its reach from 22 to approximately 26 European countries within the next two years, with the longer-term goal of covering all 27 European Union countries. They said the company is exerting tremendous efforts to develop hydrogen fuel distribution outlets in Italy, underscoring the environmental benefits of hydrogen-powered vehicles. “One kilogram of hydrogen fuel, for example, allows a vehicle to travel about 110 kilometers.
Once the project is completed, it is expected to significantly reduce carbon emissions from vehicles powered by traditional fuels, yielding substantial environmental benefits,” the sources explained. According to these sources, KPI currently operates 4,623 fuel stations abroad, with 3,810 fully owned and 813 in partnership with major European fuel companies. “The company aimed to increase this number to more than 5,500 stations by 2024 to boost its market share across Europe. Italy stands out as a key focus for KPI due to the country’s strong preference for Kuwaiti fuel. The Italian Ministry of Environment regularly praises KPI for its role in providing clean energy, and the company has made significant investments in digital fuel stations across Italy,” sources disclosed.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KPI Talib Shafi Al-Ajmi continues to coordinate closely with CEO of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) Sheikh Nawaf Al-Saud Al-Sabah to implement the Kuwait Oil Sector Strategy 2040. Sources pointed out that as one of the main arms of KPC abroad, KPI is focused on acquiring additional companies worldwide to strengthen KPC’s position in the clean energy sector; particularly since European nations increasingly rely on petroleum derivatives affiliated with KPI.
In the aviation sector, sources indicated that KPI is working hard to expand its presence in the global aviation market by supplying fuel to aircraft in more than 90 countries within the next five years, up from the current 70. “KPI’s external marketing division is also striving to meet the goals of KPC by increasing sales in European, Asian and African markets,” sources added. They said KPI achieved a major milestone last year by selling 310,000 tons of ultra biodiesel -- a product created by blending diesel with hydrogenated vegetable oil -- in a pioneering initiative. “This blending process was implemented at over 30 KPI-owned fuel stations in Italy. KPI also intends to expand its storage facilities to accommodate larger quantities of ultra blended diesel and other products,” the sources revealed.
By Najeh Bilal Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
