The Minister of Trade and Industry and Minister of State for Youth Affairs have issued Ministerial Resolution No. (171) of 2023 to regulate vehicle modifications. In the resolution, a new provision is added to the executive regulations of Law No. (117) of 2013 to address fundamental changes to vehicles.

A decisive action is taken by the Minister of Trade and Industry on vehicle modifications

Specifically, the amendment, outlined in Article One of the resolution, adds a paragraph to Article (16) and Paragraph (5) of the aforementioned law's executive regulations. License holders, shops, and companies are explicitly prohibited from making any fundamental changes to vehicles. Alterations to the vehicle's physical shape or year of manufacture fall under this category.

In addition, the resolution stipulates that prior permission must be obtained from the General Traffic Department of the Ministry of Interior before undertaking any substantial modifications to vehicles. In the realm of vehicle modifications, this regulation aims to maintain safety and compliance by ensuring all changes adhere to established guidelines.

With a view to maximizing the value of biofuel production and promoting sustainable practices, the Minister of Trade and Industry, in collaboration with the Minister of State for Youth Affairs, issued Ministerial Resolution No. (172) of 2023. In the resolution, Kuwait bans the export of used cooking oil and its waste for a year.

In accordance with the resolution, used cooking oil or its waste can only be sold to individuals or entities licensed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Environment Public Authority, and the Public Authority for Industry. In addition, those engaged in this activity must have a designated place licensed by the authorities.

Also mandated by the resolution is the use of electronic payment methods for all transactions involving used cooking oil or its waste. The purpose of this requirement is to enhance transparency and streamline financial transactions within the industry.

According to the explanatory memorandum, the decision is crucial to Kuwait's realization of added value. With the conversion of used cooking oil into biofuel, the country aims to create self-sufficient products, diversify income sources, and transfer modern technology. This transformational project will be funded by the National Fund for Small Businesses.

The memorandum emphasizes the importance of supporting national projects, especially those that contribute to sustainable development and energy security. For one year, used cooking oil waste cannot be exported to maximize benefits and create added value for the state. The report emphasizes the necessity of regulating the collection and trade of used cooking oil waste within the Kuwaiti market, so that such resources can be utilized for youth engagement and strategic projects.

The Ahmadi prosecutor, responsible for overseeing the Criminal Security Sector, has directed the Ahmadi Governorate Search and Investigation Department to arrest ten employees from an oil company. This decision follows the arrest of four expatriates who were found in possession of ten silicone fingerprints. These fingerprints were confirmed to belong to the aforementioned employees, who allegedly used them to falsely log their attendance in exchange for monthly salaries.

The Abdullah Port Investigation Office received information about four expatriates at the Abdullah Port Refinery engaging in fraudulent activities by forging fingerprints and signatures of employees. Subsequently, an investigative team was assembled, and the information was verified. The four expatriates were arrested, and ten silicone fingerprints were discovered in their office.

Upon questioning, the expatriates admitted that the fingerprints were provided to them by the ten employees. They claimed that they were responsible for the fingerprinting process on behalf of these employees. The expatriates, however, denied knowledge of the origin of these fingerprints, asserting that they were given to them by the employees themselves.

The source revealed that the charges against the defendants include receiving salaries without actually working. Similar arrests have been made in various government institutions in connection to similar cases.

Currently, the detained defendants are under investigation, and those accused of forgery have been summoned to address the allegations against them.

Member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, Badr Al-Amira, confirmed that the winter will set at the beginning of December 7, saying it is divided into three stars, with each star lasting 13 days.

In a statement to Al-Rai Al-Amira said “The first star among these three stars, which are called square because they last for forty days, is the star Antares, whose coldness is moderate and lasts until December 20 which lasts for 13 days.” Then comes the Scorpius the coldest time of the year when temperatures drop below zero.” Meteorologist Issa Ramadan advised people who venture outdoors to “wear winter clothes, in anticipation temperatures dropping during this weekend, with the lowest reaching between nine and thirteen degrees, and the highest between 23 and 24.”

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahd, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, was asked why non-commissioned officers were not included in the decision issued by the Higher Defense Council and approved by the Council of Ministers that granted indemnity to the officers who retired between January 1, 2015 and March 31, 2021. He wants to know if the beneficiaries of the decision will include noncommissioned officers. Essa Al-Kandari, the Minister of State for National Assembly and Cabinet Affairs, was asked why the Kuwait Army, Interior Ministry, Kuwait Firefighting Force and National Guard non-commissioned officers were not included in Decision No. 495/2008, regarding the granting of merit bonuses to retired officers between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2014.

A court ruling affirming that non-commissioned officers deserve a bonus was implemented, he asked. If yes, he requested copies of documents proving so. If not, he wants to know the reasons behind the non-implementation of the ruling. Jassem Al-Ostad, the Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, was asked about the plan of the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) to open outlets for selling fodder near farms. Because breeders have to buy fodder from Kuwait Flour Mills and Bakeries Company, which is far and crowded most of the time, they are suffering. In Kabd, Abdally, and Wafra, he wants to know whether PAAAFR conducted campaigns to deal with illegal sales outlets or black markets. In that case, he inquired about the penalties imposed on those who violated the regulations, the budget allocated for fodder subsidy, and if the amount is going to be increased.

He asked the Minister of Justice and State Minister for Housing Affairs Faleh Al-Raqaba about the measures taken to implement the decision that the Cabinet issued on Oct 1, 2022, to handover land in South Qairawan measuring 3,169,000 square meters to the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) for the establishment of a new residential area; and if PAHW coordinated with the relevant institutions to launch this housing project. He demanded copies of supporting documents if yes. If not, what are the reasons? Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Scientific Research Adel Al-Manea was asked why teaching is not classified as a difficult profession.

MP Muhammad Al-Mahan asked Minister of Information, Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi about the number of suspended projects at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, causes of delay, average accomplishment rate, steps taken to address the causes of delay, if a committee was formed to investigate the causes, names and qualifications of committee members, conclusion of the relevant reports, if the monitoring institutions approved the tenders floated by the ministry, and if Kuwait Municipality refused to supply electricity for any project. In a question to Minister of Commerce and Industry Muhammad Al-Aiban, MP Osama Al-Shaheen asked what method Kuwait General Administration of Customs (KGAC) used to inspect the properties of individuals and private shipments. KGAC has advanced devices for determining the contents of shipments without opening them, he wants to know.

Ahmad Al-Sa'adoun, the Speaker of the National Assembly, recently met with the Jordanian Ambassador to Kuwait Senan Rakan Al- Majali, accompanied by Rahfaa Al-Awaysha, the Deputy Ambassador. Additionally, Al-Sa'adoun met with Ambassador Matar Al-Neiadi of the United Arab Emirates to Kuwait.

Climate change could trigger a wide range of environmental catastrophes, such as melting glaciers, rising sea levels, floods, droughts, and forest fires. According to a new study, the combination of high heat and humidity due to climate change could lead to an increase in heat-related deaths and make many regions of the world uninhabitable.

Using interdisciplinary expertise from Purdue University and other research facilities in the United States, the new study explored interactions between real-world problems like climate change and human health.

Combined heat and humidity can be devastating to the human body, as it can only withstand certain combinations of heat and humidity before developing heat-related health problems, such as heat stroke or heart attacks. The specific threshold for any individual at a specific moment also depends on their exertion level and other environmental factors, such as wind speed and solar radiation.

An increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius (°C) or more than current levels could expose billions of people to extreme heat and humidity, preventing their bodies from cooling themselves naturally. In order to identify areas of the globe where global warming would lead to levels of heat and humidity that are beyond human tolerance, the researchers modeled global temperature increases ranging between 1.5°C and 4°C.

Over the course of several years, the team conducted more than 460 experiments to determine how much heat, humidity, and physical exertion humans can tolerate before their bodies no longer maintain a stable core temperature.

As people become warmer, they sweat, and more blood is pumped to their skin so they can lose heat to the environment by maintaining their core temperatures. Body core temperature rises at certain levels of heat and humidity when these adjustments are no longer sufficient.

As long as the body has immediate access to some form of relief, the rise in core temperature is not a threat. Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and strain on the cardiovascular system can cause heart attacks in people who aren't able to cool down within hours.

According to the study, people can tolerate lower levels of heat and humidity than previously thought. The ambient wet-bulb temperature limit for young, healthy people is 31°C at 100 percent humidity. Researchers found that babies, older adults, and people with cardiopulmonary vulnerabilities were more likely to experience heat stress and its associated health risks at lower temperatures and humidity levels than young people.

In the Middle East and Southeast Asia, temperatures and humidity exceeding human limits have only been recorded a handful of times in human history - and for only a few hours at a time. Since the start of the industrial revolution, when humans began to burn fossil fuels in machines and factories, temperatures around the world have increased by nearly 1℃. In 2015, 196 countries signed the Paris Climate Agreement, aiming to limit global temperature increases to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

According to the study, 2.2 billion people in Pakistan and India's Indus River Valley, one billion people in eastern China, and 800 million people living in sub-Saharan Africa will experience hours of heat that exceeds human tolerance if global temperatures increase by 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

Heatwaves with high humidity would primarily affect these regions. As humidity increases, heatwaves are more dangerous because the air cannot absorb excess moisture, limiting sweat evaporation from human bodies and moisture from some infrastructure, such as evaporative coolers. Worryingly, these regions are also in lower-to-middle income nations, so many of the affected people may not have access to air conditioning or any effective way to mitigate the negative health effects of the heat.

Continuing to warm the planet by 3°C above pre-industrial levels, the researchers concluded, would result in heat and humidity levels that are beyond human tolerance. This would increase health risks and fatalities among billions of people in areas of the United States, in South America, in Australia, and elsewhere.

It is important to remember that while climate models, such as those used in the above study are good at predicting trends, they often do not account for most unusual weather, as well as for specific events like the heatwave in Oregon in 2021 that killed more than 700 people despite the fact that the temperatures were below human tolerance levels.

Around the world, official strategies for adapting to the weather focus only on temperature. The new study, however, shows that humid heat is much more dangerous than dry heat. The government and policymakers need to reevaluate heat-mitigation strategies to invest in programs that will address the greatest dangers.

Unless mitigation measures are introduced to curb the use of fossil fuels, which is the main source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to recent higher temperatures and changing weather patterns, we will soon face a world where food insecurity is rising, and billions of people are migrating out of uninhabitable regions.

Kuwait Airways has acknowledged that the provision of complimentary tickets and additional baggage allowance has been a longstanding practice, viewed as a strategy to bolster the brand’s image. Responding to circulating information on social media, the company issued a clarification, sharing an internal document that outlines the authority granted to the Chairman of the Board of Directors to allocate free tickets and excess baggage to individuals, government entities, and official agencies.

In their statement, the airline clarified that these discretionary powers have been exercised in previous years with the primary objective of reinforcing the brand. To dispel any potential confusion, the current Board of Directors has taken steps to formalize this practice in writing and has established a comprehensive and tightly controlled framework. The second part of the Board’s decision mandates the Kuwait Airways Company’s relevant authorities to provide a quarterly report on the distribution of complimentary tickets and excess baggage for thorough review and audit by regulatory bodies.

The head of the dermatology department at Jahra Hospital and Head of the Kuwait Society of Dermatologists Dr. Muhammad Al-Otaibi says the rates of endogenous eczema among children in Kuwait range between 20 to 25 percent, compared to 10 to 20 percent globally, revealing that it is the most common skin disease in Kuwait. In a special press statement, Dr. Al-Otaibi highlighted the ongoing efforts to prepare a national statistical register on the most common skin diseases in the country, including eczema, psoriasis, and vitiligo. He revealed that the rate of psoriasis in the Arab world has reached up to five percent, compared to four percent globally.

Dr. Al-Otaibi explained that there are several causes of eczema, including genetic predisposition, weather fluctuations, and eating foods that contain milk, eggs, peanuts, fish, etc, in addition to exposure to inhaled substances such as dust, pollen, hair, and droppings of animals and birds, and psychological factors. Increased psychological stress enhances the severity of the symptoms of the disease.

Meanwhile, Dr. Muhammad Al-Otaibi announced the launch of the Kuwait Conference for Dermatology, Laser, and Cosmetic Medicine during the period from December 16 to 18 under the patronage of the Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi. It is being organized by the Kuwait Society of Dermatologists with the participation of experts, consultants, and heads of dermatology associations in the Gulf and Arab countries. He explained that the program of the conference includes more than 90 scientific lectures, 23 workshops, and 13 scientific symposia, in addition to a workshop for doctors of the Kuwait Board of Dermatology. The conference is aimed to discuss several topics regarding the uses of lasers, phototherapy, developments in the treatment of skin diseases (psoriasis, vitiligo, eczema), and the biological medications that have been used in the last ten years to treat these diseases.

According to informed sources, the Ministry of Interior has not yet opened family visas for expatriates, with the exception of some categories such as doctors, as part of the ministry’s plan to reduce the number of violators of the residency law, including those who entered the country under different visa categories and ended up not leaving when these visas expired.

They explained that the Ministry of Interior, based on instructions from the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled, is determined to end the problem of violators of the residency law through extensive security campaigns carried out by the ministry’s sectors. This is because the Residency Affairs Investigation Sector has been arresting thousands of violators of labor law in all governorates since the beginning of this year. These measures have reduced the number of violators in the country. The sources reiterated that security campaigns are ongoing throughout the country in order to arrest violators of the residency and labor laws, adding that all sectors of the Ministry of Interior are working to control marginal workers and violators of law.

Renewing residency in Kuwait has moved to digital platforms, which can be challenging for those without the latest smartphone technology. This guide is specifically designed to help individuals who do not have NFC (Near Field Communication)-enabled mobiles navigate the residency renewal process.

The Challenge with NFC

The standard procedure for renewing residency involves using online platforms like the www.eres.moh website. This process typically requires authentication through a mobile ID app, which in turn demands NFC support. However, not everyone possesses a smartphone with this capability, creating a digital divide.

Solution: Utilizing PACI Kiosk Machines

To accommodate residents without NFC-enabled phones, PACI Kiosk Machines offer a viable alternative. These machines are accessible across Kuwait, and their locations can be found here: PACI Kiosk Locations.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Locate a PACI Kiosk: First, find the nearest PACI Kiosk Machine using the provided link.

2. Insert Your Civil ID: At the kiosk, insert your civil ID. This is the initial step in the authentication process.

3. Facial Recognition: The kiosk will conduct a facial recognition scan, serving the same purpose as the mobile ID app.

4. Select the Appropriate Option: On the screen, select the option relevant to residency renewal.

5.Barcode Generation and Scanning: The kiosk will produce a barcode, which can then be scanned using any smartphone equipped with the mobile ID app, regardless of its NFC capabilities.

This method bypasses the need for an NFC-enabled phone, ensuring that all residents can renew their residency without facing technological hurdles.

This guide is intended to help residents in Kuwait who may be struggling with the NFC requirement in the online residency renewal process. By leveraging the accessibility of PACI Kiosk Machines, the residency renewal process becomes more inclusive, ensuring that technological limitations do not impede essential civic procedures.

A proposed schedule outlining requirements for setting up public radio stations across Kuwait has been finalized by the Municipality's Committee for the Study and Review of Building Regulations. A new article, 39 bis, has been incorporated into the new telecommunications regulations by Committee head Muhammad Al-Mutairi, in a letter to the Municipality's Director General Saud Al-Dabbous. The article introduces penalties, including fines ranging from 9,000 to 10,000 dinars, suspension of the contractor's license, and administrative deportation for non-Kuwaiti violators.

The violations subject to these penalties include unauthorized implementation or supervision of telecommunications stations and towers, exceeding the designated area of 300 square meters, putting vehicles in unauthorized locations, establishing communication infrastructure in prohibited sites, and failing to maintain the required 20-meter distance from residential buildings, schools, kindergartens, and facilities for people with disabilities.

According to Al-Mutairi, for enclosing communication stations and towers with materials other than permeable iron mesh, failing to adhere to specified fence heights, and failing to display warning and indicative signs on relevant buildings and sites, a fine of 100 to 500 dinars is imposed. In addition, the committee stipulated fines ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 dinars for advertising or promotional boards. In the third clause, if the site of telecommunications stations and towers is not fenced, the owner will be fined 4,000 - 5,000 dinars. Whenever possible, a ruling will be made to rectify the violation, with the possibility of adding additional penalties such as license suspension or cancellation. Depending on the severity of the violation, violators may also face criminal or civil penalties. Fines increase with the number of violations.

In a recent development, the Interior Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have approved the unified Gulf tourist visa project, which is expected to commence in 2025. The project aims to facilitate the movement of residents and tourists across the GCC countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The visa will allow travelers to visit multiple countries with a single visa, streamlining the process and potentially boosting the region’s tourism sector.

Following the approval, joint or individual technical committees for each country will begin formulating and scrutinizing the prerequisites and conditions essential for visa application, in compliance with the respective laws and regulations of each nation. The visa applications will be submitted through a unified website/app, subject to scrutiny and approvals from all participating countries before the visa is issued. If objections arise from one or more countries, the visa will be granted conditionally for entry into the approved countries exclusively.

It’s important to note that project approval does not automatically guarantee consent from all countries for the visa holder’s entry. Each country will maintain its sovereignty in determining who is allowed to enter. For example, Kuwait currently maintains barriers to the entry of certain nationalities into the country, which will be among the conditions reviewed by the relevant committees either prior to the project launch or post-implementation.

Additionally, the project encompasses the establishment of specific visa fees. The Residency Affairs Sector in the Ministry of Interior is actively working on a study to amend visa fees of various types, with these amendments anticipated to be incorporated into the forthcoming discussion of the foreigners’ residency law in the National Assembly scheduled for December. This is crucial as visa fees play a significant role in attracting tourists to the region.

The unified Gulf tourist visa is part of the GCC 2030 tourism strategy, designed to increase the tourism sector’s contribution to the GDP and establish the GCC as a leading global tourist destination. The implementation of the unified visa is expected to have a transformative impact on the region’s tourism industry, attracting more tourists and stimulating economic growth in the tourism sector. It will require close collaboration and coordination among the GCC countries to ensure its success.

In conclusion, the unified Gulf tourist visa project is a significant step towards fostering economic integration and promoting tourism in the GCC countries. It represents a shared vision and collective ambition of the member states and is expected to have a positive impact on the economic and tourist sectors of the region.

Under the leadership of Dr. Ahmed Al-Shatti, the Medical Emergency Department at the Ministry of Health responded to 1,072 ambulance calls, an average of 356 a day.

During the rains, there were 94 accidents, with a daily average of 31 accidents, an increase from the pre-rainfall daily average of 21 accidents. Dr. Al-Shatti commended the collaborative efforts of all involved parties, particularly the emergency medical personnel and the hospital accident response team.

The Ministry of Health in Kuwait is close to acquiring a facility in the Hawalli region to establish a new Medical examination center for expatriate workers. The center is expected to commence operations shortly after the completion of installing equipment.

Reliable sources revealed that the Ministry is actively working with relevant authorities to obtain approval for additional new centers. The primary goal is to develop a comprehensive solution to prevent the overcrowding crisis witnessed by these centers in recent years.

Furthermore, the Ministry is currently exploring various regulatory measures for these centers. This includes extension of working hours, implementing a two-shift system, or considering the approval of specific procedures for service seekers with segmentation or categorization. These measures are designed to streamline the service-receiving process and ensure efficiency.

Muhammad Al-Aiban, the Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, issued a directive today urging the inspection and supervisory teams to increase their surveillance efforts. By artificially inflating goods' prices, he emphasized their responsibility to impose the maximum penalties on those who violate the law.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Commerce following Al-Aiban's meeting with the Commercial Control and Consumer Protection Sector, employees are the first line of defense against merchant greed. Taking advantage of salary increases for unjust enrichment is prohibited, he said explicitly. This directive is a proactive measure to regulate and monitor unwarranted increases in commodity prices, coinciding with the recent approval of financial increases for retirees.

During the meeting, Al-Aiban engaged in discussions with the heads of the Commercial Control Emergency Department, the Director of the Technical Apparatus for Commodity Supervision, and the Director of the Consumer Protection Department about developments in the work plan of the Commercial Control Department. The purpose was to assess their preparedness to address potential price increases in the upcoming period. Furthermore, Al-Aiban listened to the insights and recommendations of the inspection teams, aiming to address any challenges they might face and empower them to fulfill their duties effectively. In ensuring fair market practices and safeguarding citizens against economic exploitation, the Ministry takes this proactive approach.

The Ministry of Interior has issued a decision to stop transferring the Article 17 residency permits of expatriates working in the government sector to the private sector as Article 18 residency permits.

According to security sources, the decision to stop the transfer will be applied to those whose services ended when they reached the legal age or to those who resigned from their job.

They revealed that there is a trend among state ministries to replace expatriates with citizens due to which employment contracts are not renewed for those who have reached the legal age for work or who have reached the age of 60 years, with the aim of reducing the number of expatriates in these ministries and replacing them with citizens.

Meanwhile, the number of expatriates who were deported during the current year reached more than 40,000, including those who violated the residency law, marginal workers, those who violated public morals, and those bound by judicial rulings.

The Kuwaiti national football team suffered a defeat at the hands of the Indian team, conceding a lone goal in a match held at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium on Thursday. This match marked the commencement of the joint qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup, where Manvir Singh secured the victory for India with a goal in the 75th minute.

Meanwhile, the Qatar national football team secured a commanding victory over its Afghan counterpart, clinching an impressive 8-1 triumph at Doha’s Khalifa International Stadium. This marked the opening match in the initial group stage of the joint qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup finals.

The Qatari national team dominated the first half, netting six goals compared to Afghanistan’s lone goal. Al-Moataz Ali, a player for the Qatari team, contributed significantly, scoring four of the six goals. The momentum continued into the second half, with Qatar adding two more goals to seal the match with an 8-1 scoreline in their favor.

Guided by Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, the Qatari team will continue to compete in the first group of the joint qualifiers, alongside the Kuwaiti and Indian teams.

In a recent announcement, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation revealed that a minor fire incident at the T2 passenger terminal of Kuwait International Airport was effectively contained on Wednesday evening.

The impact of the fire was confined to minor material damage, specifically related to certain construction materials. Importantly, the incident did not disrupt air traffic navigation.

The responsive action of the General Fire Force promptly addressed the fire, and ongoing efforts by specialists are focused on determining the root causes of the incident.

Undersecretary of Public Security Sector Major General Abdullah Al-Rajaib reported the closure of several roads. Specifically, Al-Maghrib Road leading to the capital, Surra, Al-Jahra Road opposite Al Tilal, Abdul Karim Al-Khattabi Street next to Hawally Passport office, as well as the Soukh Mubarakiya parking lots in the capital region, have been closed due to rising water levels.

In addition, he stressed the importance of prioritizing safety and urged citizens and residents to avoid unnecessary outings due to water accumulation. During the ongoing rainy conditions in the country, Al-Rajaib advised the public to stay away from water accumulation to ensure their well-being.

In response to reports from the Meteorological Department, the Ministry of Education has announced a shift to remote learning in all government schools. The decision is aimed at ensuring the safety of students and staff in anticipation of an unstable climate and heavy rainfall. On Thursday, the 16th of November, both educational and administrative staff will participate in remote learning.

Ahmed Al-Wahida, the Ministry's official spokesperson, emphasised that this proactive measure underlines the Ministry's commitment to sustaining education and that necessary preparations and arrangements have been made within the educational sector to facilitate this change. As a result, Al-Wahida urged everyone to adhere to the Ministry of Education's instructions and stay informed of the latest official updates through the Ministry's official social media accounts.

Improving the quality of Kuwaiti soil that had largely been contaminated as a result of crude spills caused by the 1990 Iraqi invasion is a significant part of environmental protection, the oil ministry said on Tuesday.

Such a measure will be instrumental in rectifying the damage inflicted on Kuwaiti soil more than three decades ago, the oil ministry’s public relations chief Dr. Tamather Al-Sabah told a ministry-organized panel discussion on future environmental endeavors. Iraqi forces had set more than 700 oil wells ablaze to trigger the “biggest environmental catastrophe” in history, according to Dr. Mohammad Al-Qahtani, who is in charge of the ministry’s soil-related projects, most of which are being carried out in northern and southern areas, he said.

Numerous innovative techniques are utilized in these projects that aim to improve the quality of Kuwaiti soil, he underlined, citing biological treatment as one of many effective cleansing methods that go into such endeavors.

State-run Kuwait Oil Company’s soil-related projects chief Muthana Al-Mumen listed a number of recent programs that have been completed, chief among them a “green cover project” that covers some 30 square kilometers, he said.(KUNA)