Kuwaitisation in oil sector rises as national workforce reaches 97.5% at KPC

Kuwait’s oil sector has recorded an increase in the employment of Kuwaiti nationals, with Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and its subsidiaries reporting a workforce of 7,534 employees at the beginning of September, according to a local media report.

Of the total workforce, 7,344 employees were Kuwaiti nationals, accounting for approximately 97.5% of employees. This compares with 5,979 Kuwaitis recorded at the end of the fiscal year on 31 March, indicating an increase in the employment of national talent across the sector.

According to sources cited in the report, the final list of applicants who passed recruitment tests for positions at KPC and its subsidiaries had been approved. The official announcement was expected in the following days, after which appointment procedures and integration into field and administrative roles would begin.

The increase in Kuwaitisation reflects the oil sector’s focus on expanding employment opportunities for Kuwaiti nationals and developing technical capabilities to support the country’s energy industry.

KPC expands training and career development for Kuwaiti talent

KPC is supporting national workforce development through training and professional development programmes aimed at transferring specialised technical expertise to younger employees.

According to sources cited in the report, these initiatives are intended to strengthen career prospects for Kuwaiti nationals while maintaining operational efficiency and continuity across oil and gas production activities.

The company’s workforce strategy also supports wider industrial and technological development, including efforts to increase local refinery capacity and improve oil and gas production processes.

National employees are contributing to environmental projects, clean fuel production and initiatives designed to meet international market requirements and environmental standards.

The report linked workforce development with investments in infrastructure, increased crude oil production and innovation, as Kuwait seeks to maintain its position as a reliable global energy supplier.

Al Khafji Joint Operations signs agreement on autonomous offshore platform

Separately, Al Khafji Joint Operations (KJO) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Aramco Digital and SLB to study and develop the “Red” platform, described in the report as a planned autonomous offshore production platform for Saudi Arabia and the wider Arabian Gulf region.

The initiative aims to advance digitalisation in the oil and gas industry by using artificial intelligence and autonomous systems to manage offshore production operations, with the goal of reducing the need for continuous on-site human intervention.

The proposed platform is expected to integrate cloud computing, real-time data analytics and industrial Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to monitor reservoir behaviour and adjust operations to optimise oil and gas production.

The agreement was signed by representatives of the three organisations. Musaed Al Marid, Executive Director of Projects and Engineering at KJO, signed on behalf of the joint operations. Eid Al-Harbi, CEO of the Telecommunications Sector at Aramco Digital, represented the digital technology company, while Reda Kelo, SLB’s Managing Director for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, signed on behalf of SLB.

The project is intended to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs and strengthen the resilience of offshore production in challenging marine environments.

The developments highlight two parallel priorities across the Gulf energy sector: increasing the participation and technical capabilities of national workforces while investing in digital technologies to improve production efficiency and competitiveness.