CAREER PLANNING

Professional Development Plan and Review

Professional Development Plan and Review

Task 1 - Organisation Profile

Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) was established in October 1960 as a shareholder company owned by the government and the private sector. In 1975 KNPC became a fully owned state Company. After the creation of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) in 1980, KNPC became fully owned by KPC which itself is owned by the State of Kuwait. KNPC works in the field of oil refining and gas liquefaction, in addition to retail petroleum products marketing. KNPC supports higher education by providing scholarships and training. The support given is mainly directed to financing and sponsorship of refinery operation specialization at the College of Technological Studies of the Public Authority of Applied Education and Training (PAAET). KNPC provides 100 scholarships annually to Kuwaiti students at the College of Technological Studies of the Public Authority of Applied Education and Training (PAAET). The scholarships cover diploma degrees in the field of refinery operation technology. Graduates are usually employed by KNPC as refinery operators, and during study years they receive monthly salaries from the Company. KNPC provides field and academic training courses and programs in the field of refinery operation technology. Certificates are issued upon completion of the training program. (Grant 2013, pp. , pp. 136)

Since its incorporation, the company engaged in different activities of the oil industry. When it was established in 1960 KNPC was the only and first national company in a region where hydrocarbon resources were managed and exploited by foreign companies. The owners vision was a stimulating development and provided an exemplary experience in handling national resources. In its perspective KNPC came as a model for the indigenous potentials, to undertake management and exploitation of the oil resources which started to develop into a colossal source of income capable of sustaining the society welfare and financing its over all development. In 1975 the State acquired full ownership of KNPC and compensated the private shareholders for their stocks. KNPC's operations were highly integrated mainly relying upon its oil refinery in Shuaiba and the marketing of petroleum products from Al-Ahmadi Refinery, run at the time by Kuwait Oil Company KOC- in both Local and international markets. As a matter of fact KNPC at that time was maintaining an efficient presence in Europe, the Far East and United States of America to handle the marketing of petroleum products from the Kuwait refineries. It even owned and operated a number of oil tankers to deliver petroleum products to customers all across the world. (Chatterjee 2009, pp. 105)

In 1980 Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) was established as the state owned asset and all other oil companies in Kuwait, including KNPC, became KPC subsidiaries. One year later after the establishment of KPC, the oil sector in Kuwait was restructured on sectorial basis. KNPC became responsible for the oil refining and gas liquefaction industry in addition to the marketing of petroleum products in Kuwait through a chain of filling stations, which reached its peak between 2005/2007 ...