Kuwait National Petroleum Company’s (KNPC’s) overhaul of the Mina Abdullah (MAB) and Mina al-Ahmadi (MAA) refineries is 40 per cent complete, according to an industry source.

The revamp is part of the $12bn Clean Fuels Project (CFP), a major initiative to upgrade the MAB and MAA refineries, and close the older 200,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) Shuaiba refinery.

Speaking to MEED, the source said the entire scheme is expected be completed by 2019. The source declined to say whether construction work had started on temporary structures and permanent units.

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, parent company of KNPC, did not comment when contacted.

The CFP aims to increase refining capacity and improve the quality of hydrocarbons products manufactured to meet international environmental and marketing standards as well as legislation requirements. Capacity at the two refineries will rise to a combined 800,000 b/d from 730,000 b/d.

First announced in 2007, the scheme has been subject to numerous delays, with completion now more likely to be 2019 rather than the target date of 2017.

In mid April 2014, however, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts were finally awarded, with contracts going to three groups.