KUWAIT: Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) celebrates today its 75th anniversary since establishment in 1934, boasting a history of great achievements , and an archive that illustrates the construction of the modern Kuwait.

The end of the 1920s, Kuwait faced great challenges, starting with the increase of culture pearls, that had affected the price of natural pearls in Kuwait. At this stage, Kuwaitis started to look at the black areas in the deserts, not knowing that it could draw out Kuwait's future and the area, seeking the help of British Petroleum Company, which had at the time discovered oil in Bahrain.

KOC's recent publication entitled "Progress and Prosperity", showed that the company was established under joint ownership agreement between the Aglo-Iranian Oil Company, now known as British Petroleum and Gulf Oil Corporation known today as Chevron and the Kuwaiti government.

In 1938 oil was discovered in Burgan Well-1, during the following years, eight exploration and appraisal wells were drilled which established "Burgan" as one of the largest producing oil fields in the world.

However, drilling and production operations were suspended due to the eruption of World War II. After the end of the war in 1945, operations were resumed and the eight drilled wells produced at a rate of 30,000 bpd, surface facilities and pipe lines had been constructed and Kuwait was ready for a new era of prosperity.

The book added, in June 1946, His Highness the late Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber, then Amir of Kuwait, inaugurate the first shipment of oil when he turned the silver wheeled valve to start loading the first flow of oil onto the 12,000 tonne "British Fuzilier" tanker.

In 1955, exploration activities continued leading to the discovery of Raudhatain field in north Kuwait and Minagish field in west Kuwait. In 1974, a partnership was ratified by Kuwait National Assembly giving 60 percent control of the operations and facilities of KOC to the State of Kuwait while remaining 40 percent were divided equally between BP and Gulf. In 1975, the Kuwaiti government assumed full ownership of the company.

In 1980, Kuwait petroleum Corporation (KPC) was established by an Amiri decree, KOC was given the responsibility of on-shore off-shore exploration, drilling, development, and production of hydrocarbon in the state of Kuwait.

Between August 1990 and February 1991, nearly 80 percent of KOC producing wells, installations and facilities were destroyed in the wake of the Iraqi invasion and 700 oil wells set ablaze.

The first post-liberation shipment of 1.64 million barrels of crude oil left Kuwait in July 1991, by September wells were under construction and crude oil production once again exceeded the two million barrels per day.

In 1995 extension exploration and development programs were designed, in December of the same year, the company signed a contract with Chinese Petroleum Corporation to build gathering centers 27 and 28 in west Kuwait.

The company's various activities of sports, entertainment and social facilities continued at all levels. In March 2000, the 14th Ahmadi Sports Day was held. The year 2006 witnessed a historic incident as Kuwait announced joining the Club for countries producing natural gas, in Om Naqi, north Kuwait, in addition to the exploration of light oil and gas in other areas.