At a joint roundtable hosted by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, and Rice University’s Baker Institute, leaders and experts discussed the role of energy transition in Kuwait’s economic diversification. The event focused on how academic dialogue can support analysis of ongoing changes in global energy systems.
A representative from Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) addressed the gathering, highlighting that “the global energy transition is a subject of intense academic inquiry and policy debate. As such, it is not a singular event, but instead a complex, multi-decade process shaped by technological innovation, economic realities, and societal needs.” The speaker emphasized KPC’s recognition of the need to reduce carbon emissions: “climate change is real, and it requires serious action.”
However, he also cautioned against policies that set arbitrary deadlines for ending hydrocarbon use. “Legislation that sets – for political purposes – an arbitrary date for elimination of hydrocarbons also sets society up for catastrophe,” he said. He noted that many essential products rely on hydrocarbons and cannot be easily replaced.
He stated: “The Energy Transition is just that – a transition. It is not an abrupt switch; it is a gradual evolution. In any realistic forecast, hydrocarbons will remain a vital part of the world’s energy mix, though their share of the overall mix will diminish.” He added that while non-hydrocarbon sources are expected to grow significantly by 2050, there will still be substantial demand for oil—potentially around one hundred million barrels per day.
The KPC representative outlined Kuwait’s strategy to respond to these trends. He explained that KPC aims to increase crude oil production capacity to four million barrels per day by 2035 and achieve stable free gas production targets by 2040. Over the next five years, KPC plans to invest between US$9-10 billion annually in its domestic upstream sector with an intermediate goal of reaching 3.2 million barrels per day.
“Increasing our production capacity by more than 20% over the past three years has brought us to more than three million barrels a day,” he reported.
In parallel with boosting production, KPC has committed to decarbonizing its operations. The company has set out on a net-zero journey aiming to eliminate or offset all Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. According to the speaker: “Our barrel is the lowest carbon cost barrel in the world, with an estimated CO2 output of about 5kg per barrel.”
The decarbonization strategy includes reducing flaring through initiatives like Zero Net Flaring—which seeks to cut up to two million tons of CO2 annually by 2035—and implementing technologies across operations to identify and eliminate flaring sources. Gas flaring in upstream business has already dropped from over ten percent a decade ago to less than half a percent today.
KPC also plans large-scale projects for capturing CO2 from downstream operations for injection into reservoirs—a method both for maintaining pressure and freeing natural gas resources—and recently identified geological formations capable of sequestering significant amounts of CO2.
To further lower emissions associated with electricity consumption in oil sector operations (currently about ten percent of national power use), KPC intends to partner with relevant ministries to swap approximately two gigawatts of solar power into its supply within several years. Longer-term goals include building up renewable capacity up to seventeen gigawatts by 2050 as part of broader efforts such as green hydrogen development if market conditions allow.
Other measures include using solar-powered pumps at oil fields like Umm Gudair and launching afforestation projects across five hundred square kilometers aimed at offsetting nine million tons of CO2 annually by mid-century.
The speaker stressed collaboration with academia as key: “Academic institutions like Rice University, KISR and KFAS play a vital role in shaping the future of energy… We value our partnerships with the academic community and are eager to deepen our collaboration—whether through joint research projects, student exchanges, or knowledge-sharing initiatives.”
Concluding his remarks, he said: “Kuwait is committed to responsible leadership, grounded in pragmatism and innovation. We believe that by working together—industry, governments, and academia—we can advance the frontiers of science, support equitable economic growth, and ensure a sustainable energy future for all.”
