KUWAIT RESUMES OPERATIONS AT SHUAIBA REFINERY

Kuwait reports further recovery from sabotage inflicted during its 7 month occupation by Iraqi invaders.

Kuwait National Petroleum Co. (KNPC) in mid-November reopened its Shuaiba refinery, the country's oldest refinery and the most heavily damaged by Iraqi soldiers almost 3 years ago. It was the last of Kuwait's three refineries to resume operations.

Oil Minister Ali al-Baghli said repairs to the Shuaiba, Mina Abdulla, and Mina Al-Ahmadi refineries cost the government about $385 million.

Shuaiba, built in 1968, will process 130,000 b/d of crude. It may regain its preinvasion capacity of 195,000 b/d by yearend 1994, said Riyadh al-Saleh, refinery manager.

Ahmed al-Mutair, KNPC director, said Kuwait will be able to refine 650,000 b/d by the end of January 1994, the Associated Press reported.

Preinvasion capacity of Kuwait's refineries was 830,000 b/d.

Meantime, Agence France Presse reported Kuwait has recovered 16.4 million bbl of crude spilled onto its desert floor as a result of Iraqi sabotage to oil fields.