Kuwait

Located in a region that contains 75% of the world's oil reserves, Kuwait may be small in size but it has great petroleum wealth. With an estimated 190 years of reserves at current levels of consumption, the state is one of the long-term majors in international oil production.

Kuwait's first experimental oil wells were drilled in the 1930's by Kuwait Oil Company, a joint venture between the Gulf Oil Company of the US and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (later to become British Petroleum). Their first success was the Burgan-1 well, which came on stream in 1938. Today, the extended Burgan complex is the second largest developed oilfield in the world.

During the 1960's and 70's, Kuwait renegotiated control of its oil and natural gas resources from its foreign concessionaires and production was brought under State management to conserve wealth for future generations.

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation

In 1980 Kuwait's oil industry was revolutionised when the four state owned companies responsible for Kuwait's oil production, processing and transportation came under the control of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC); a new independent entity formed to safeguard and promote Kuwait’s oil interests through integrated planning, financial, purchasing and marketing systems.

Today, Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) manages all oil and gas exploration activity inside Kuwait. Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) oversee the local refining and marketing of petroleum products and controls the domestic service station chain within Kuwait. Responsibility for the production of fertilisers and petrochemicals lies with Petrochemicals Industries Company (PIC) and the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) is the State's authorised carrier of Kuwaiti crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied gases.

During early 1980's KPC also expanded its foreign operations, creating three new subsidiary companies. Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) handles all overseas investment operations in petroleum exploration and utilisation. GlobalSantaFe Corporation specialises in the global exploration and development of oil and gas reserves and worldwide contract drilling services. In 1987 the Kuwait Aviation Fuelling Company (KAFCO) also became a KPC subsidiary. KAFCO is responsible for providing aviation refuelling services to all aircraft using Kuwait International Airport. Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI) runs KPC's downstream marketing operations in Europe and Asia and manages the Q8 retail brand.

Kuwait Petroleum International, LTD. (Q8)

Kuwait Petroleum International was established 1983, the international arm of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) ,under its distinctive “Q8 sails” logo, refines and markets fuel, lubricants and other petroleum derivatives to a diverse customer base across Europe.

KPI's network of more than 4,000 Q8 branded service stations extends across seven European countries - Italy, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Belgium and Luxemburg. Q8 is at the forefront of developing forecourt retailing by expanding the range of goods and services offered – serving the needs of the local communities and motorists. In some markets this is through establishing partnerships with other companies – in the Benelux an alliance with supermarket chain Delhaize provides a complete "mini-supermarket" service. Opportunities to link up with other companies to provide, for example, dry-cleaning and fast food facilities, are actively sought where they bring a clear customer benefit.

Car washing is an important facility for the motorist. KPI has one of the most advanced carwash operations in Europe and, in Denmark, is the market leader in this sector. 

Q8 has respected & trusted Direct sales operations in the national markets in which it has a presence, and also internationally, KPI operates a Direct Division that is responsible for the marketing and sales of bulk fuels, bitumen, LPG and other petroleum products. The customer base range from larger corporate users, public utilities, local authorities, transport companies, light industry and farmers to individual private consumers for home heating oil. In some markets the direct division operates as a subsidiary under an independent name.

KPI owns through International Diesel Services (IDS) a network of fully automated 24hours outlets supplying diesel to large national & international road transport across Europe. Own customers are serviced through our highly automated logistics network, where our investment in technology plays an important role in ensuring timely delivery of the highest quality products.

Q8 Aviation supplies jet fuel to many of the worlds’ major airports as well as to smaller regional airports. KPIAC can provide fuel to over 50 airports across Europe and the Far East to around 200 airlines. In the UK, Q8 Aviation serves the four main airports Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester as well as regional airports at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol and Cardiff. The Italian network spans ten international and regional airports. The major Hubs of Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt are also served.

Kuwait Petroleum International Lubes  (KPIL) produce and market lubricants under Q8Oils brand name. Basic raw material comes from KPI Europoort Refinery in Rotterdam (NL), where Kuwaiti crude oil is processed into  some of the finest quality lubricant base oils available . These base oils are manufactured  into finished lubricants at four blending plants to rigorous specifications set and monitored  by KPI’s independent research arm, Kuwait Research & Technology (KPR & T ). Today, KPI market approximately 380,000  Barrels/day of products per day in Western Europe through more than 4,000 retail stations, and operates its own refinery in the Eurooport and jointly with AGIP in Milazzo. Currently, The company is also looking into further international expansion in the near and Far East.

Kuwait Petroleum International Limited
Registered in England, Registered Number 1734259.
VAT Registration Number: GB 606 1853 52
Registered Office: Duke’s Court, Duke Street, Woking, Surrey GU21 5BH United Kingdom.
A wholly owned Subsidiary Company of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Kuwait

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