A dispute between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia over production in their shared fields of the Partitioned Neutral Zone (PNZ) has escalated in the past week, despite efforts to resolve the row that has shut in more than 500,000 b/d of production. Kuwaiti Oil Minister ‘Ali al-‘Umair has reportedly written to his Saudi Arabian counterpart Ali Naimi, calling for a resumption of output from the PNZ and holding the kingdom responsible for the loss in revenue.
Kuwait’s al-Rai newspaper published a copy of the letter, though the contents could not be independently verified. There has been no official comment from Riyadh about the latest development in the saga that ultimately forced the Saudi division of US oil major Chevron to shut down production from the 200,000 b/d Wafra field several months ago (MEES, 29 May). (CONTINUED - 1503 WORDS)
