KUWAIT AVIATION FUELLING COMPANY (KAFCO)
	Aviation fuel supply

The oil boom of the early 1970s not only transformed the Kuwaiti economy: it also
revolutionized the aircraft industry.

The Kuwait Aviation Fueling Company (KAFCO) was formed in 1963. During its early years, Kuwait airport's original storage capacity of 325,000 litres was quite adequate for KAFCO's needs. But the escalating demand for air travel created the need for a modern international airport, which in turn required KAFCO to expand.

 

A new automated depot with a storage capacity of 4.5 million litres was completed in 1972, incorporating modern motorised valves, high speed pumps and sophisticated electronic systems for remotely monitoring depot operations. Until 1975, KAFCO's jet fuel was transported by tanker from the Shuaiba and Mina AI-Ahmadi refineries to KAFCO's depot. At the end of 1975, road tanker transportation was replaced by 37 km of eight-inch underground pipeline linking KAFCO's storage tanks at Kuwait International Airport to the two KNPC refineries. In the mid 1970s, the advent of the Boeing 747 'Jumbo jet' airliner marked a new epoch in commercial aviation. The widespread use of this wide-body jetliner with its high fuel consumption and greater passenger capacity sent demand for jet fuel spiralling. In 1979 KAFCO once again carried out major extensions to its airport depot, storage facilities and fuelling fleet. The new site, which now measures nearly 115,000 square metres, was equipped with six new storage tanks, each with a capacity of 4.5 million litres, giving a total storage capacity of approximately 30 million litres - sufficient to supply the airport for three weeks. Six hydrant pumps, each capable of delivering 9000 litres per minute, now service the 1500 aircraft refuelling at Kuwait's International Airport each month. The depot's fuelling fleet includes four high-flow refuellers (each with a capacity of 65,000 litres) with deck-hoses for

positioning underwing, each capable of delivering 3800 litres per minute; two 20,000 litre refuellers, low to medium-flow, specially for overwing refuelling; and nine highflow dispensers with deck hoses for hydrant refuelling. Quality control and safety precautions KAFCO specialises in the supply of jet A- 1 (ATK) aviation fuel - a special kerosene formulation that undergoes rigorous testing at every stage of production to meet stringent international specifications A fully-equipped laboratory constantly monitors fuel quality and specification conformity. In addition to the specification tests done at the refinery, tests are routinely carried out at KAFCO on every batch of fuel for corrosion, distillation, density, electrical conductivity, flash and freezing points, moisture content and sulphur. Only after the fuel has passed the necessary acceptance tests is it released for issue to aircraft. KAFCO places strong emphasis on safety and fire protection, and staff are routinely trained in fire prevention and fire fighting procedures. The KAFCO jet fuel storage tanks are equipped with a base foam injection system. In the event of a tank fire, foam is injected into the base of the tank and rises to the surface of the fuel, forming a foam blanket that prevents combustion. Foam, dry chemical and water dispensing mobile fire-fighting units also form part of KAFCO's permanent array of fire safety equipment.

International aviation community to KAFCO's aid

The international aviation community provided invaluable support in assisting KAFCO speedily to procure the specialist spare parts it needed to resume fuelling services, after the extensive damage done to KAFCO’s facilities during the Iraqi occupation.