KUWAIT: Kuwait on Thursday marks the 34th anniversary of extinguishing the last of 737 oil wells deliberately set on fire by Iraqi forces before their withdrawal in February 1991.The annual commemoration honors the efforts of Kuwaiti specialized teams and international partners who worked day and night for months to extinguish the wells and limit the environmental, economic, and social consequences of the fires.
The final well, in Burgan field in Al-Ahmadi, was put out in 1991 in a ceremony attended by the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, marking the end of heroic firefighting operations. During the occupation, Iraqi forces ignited wells across major oil-producing areas, creating oil lakes, massive smoke plumes, explosions at collection centers and terminals, and widespread damage to vegetation, buildings, and marine and terrestrial life.
His Highness the late Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is pictured during the ceremony to put out the last burning oil well set ablaze by Iraqi forces in 1991.
KPC team members were tasked with extinguishing the burning oil wells.
The fires disrupted oil production, causing losses of 4 to 6 million barrels of crude daily, with estimated economic losses of about USD 120 million per day, in addition to long-term environmental and health impacts. The disaster affected neighboring countries, with smoke and toxic rain reaching Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, Oman, and parts of Central Asia.
Despite limited experience, the Kuwaiti firefighting team extinguished 41 wells and gained international recognition, while more than 10,000 personnel from 27 foreign teams participated, supported by over 5,800 specialized vehicles and equipment, forming the largest non-military firefighting fleet ever assembled in one location.
After liberation, Kuwait launched extensive efforts to rehabilitate the oil sector, including damage assessment, infrastructure repair, production restoration, and environmental studies, supported by international experts.Global conferences and workshops were held to examine the fires’ long-term effects and promote environmental protection strategies. The 34th anniversary serves as a reminder of Kuwait’s resilience, the dedication of its citizens, and the international cooperation that helped contain one of the world’s most severe environmental disasters. — KUNA
