- Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research

Transcription

Centre for Research and Studies on Kuwait
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
Iraqi Aggression
On Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
Effects and Repercussions
Prepared by
National Scientific and Technical Information Center
Kuwait, 1999
© Centre for Research and Studies on Kuwait
Catalogued by the National Library of Kuwait
Iraqi Aggression on (lie Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research,
Effects and Repercussions! Prepared by the National Scientific
and
Technical
Information
Centre.Kuwait:
Centre
for
Research and Studies on Kuwait, 1999.
1St ed.- Kuwait: Centre for Research and Studies on Kuwait. 1999.
148 p:ill: 24X16cm.
ISBN 99906-32-07-3
1. Iraq—Kuwait Crisis. 1990—1991, Destniction and Pillage —
Kuwait.
2. Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research — Destruction and Pillage.
1. Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. National Scientific. and
Technical Information Centre.
DS79. 736 956.70442 TLCOO- 10200
AACR2 MARC
ISBN 99906-32-07-3
2
Table of Contents
Foreword………………………………………………………..
Preface…………………………………………………………..
Introduction…………………………………………………….
5
7
9
Chapter One: A scientific Edifice on Kuwait Soil
• Outset of KISR's Research Activities…………………..
• Spheres of Work at KISR's……………………………..
• KISR's Organization Chat………………………………
11
18
17
Chapter Tow: Bright Achievements
• Scientific Achievements………………………………….
• KISR's Scientific Prestige………………………………..
45
50
•
•
•
•
Chapter Three: Aggression against KISR's Facilities
Plunder and Destruction of KISR's Facilities…………….
Statements by Eyewitnesses………………………………
Incrimination of Iraqi Documents…………………………
The Aggression in Pictures………………………………..
•
•
•
•
•
Chapter Four: A Barbaric Attitude towards Scientific Research
Dismantling of an Arab Scientific Edifice…………………
97
Performance of Joint Projects……………………………. .
98
Losses Caused by the Cessation of Operations……………….. 104
The Impact of the Iraqi Aggression on National Development… 107
Reports by International Organizations on the Iraqi
Aggression on Kuwait's Scientific Establishments…………… 115
53
66
69
83
Chapter Five: Life Returns to Normal
• Reconstruction after Liberation………………………………. 117
• Inside and Outside Partners in Reconstruction……………….. 123
Abbreviations…………………………………………….
3
138
4
Foreword
This book draws an abhorrent picture of Iraq’s aggression against the
State of Kuwait. It stands witness to the barbarism, brutality and disgrace
displayed by the Iraqi regime toward all human principles, values and
conventions. The Kuwait Institute fir Scientific Research (KISR ) was one of
the targets of the Iraqi regime’s flagrant aggression. KISR is a grand edifice
for human advancement; the government has provided it with all of the tools
needed for scientific research, and has recruited senior researchers and
specialists to undertake applied scientific research in various fields. KISR
participates in the study and analysis of environmental issues, the
identification of environmental components and characteristics, the
utilization of research output, the employment of modern technology in
environmental problem-solving, the utilization of technology in agricultural
and industrial enterprises, the exploitation of natural resources, the training
of Kuwaiti personnel in the field of science and the development of their
scientific and research skills, and the financing of all research activities.
Thus, KISR has achieved a reputation for having a high standard of
scientific competence, and has become one of the five most notable and
recognized scientific centers in the developing world. On many occasions, it
has won major international awards.
This book is the outcome of joint cooperation between the Center for
Research and Studies on Kuwait (CRSK) and KISR.It provides evidence of
Iraq’s aggression on KISR, plundering of its scientific property, and
destruction of the institute’s infrastructure, the magnitude of which shocked
all international fact-finding experts who visited liberated Kuwait and saw
firsthand the scale of wreak havoc on its scientific and cultural institutions.
5
Oddly enough, Iraq as well as other Gulf countries had benefited from
the research done at KISR. In fact, Iraqi researchers had occasionally visited
KISR and availed themselves of its real and potential scientific wealth.
The Iraqi aggression- was not directed against Kuwait alone. Rather, it
was an aggression against human civilization at large. KISR had performed
research for the sake of scientific truth. Its elite collection of scientists and
researchers, despite their different nationalities, had been selected on the
basis of individual scientific excellence. Therefore, the Iraqi aggression was,
in fact, an encroachment upon the lofty principles of scientific research.
Prof Abdullah V AI-Ghunaim
CRSK Chairman
6
Preface
Science, through the colossal advances made in the various fields of
applied science, has played a fundamental role in the progress of countries,
and the development of their resources and potentials in the modern age.
Because of its contribution to the progress of society, the government of
Kuwait has devoted considerable attention to science through its support of
the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) since its establishment.
Consequently, with such encouragement by the government, Kuwait’s
society has moved to better exploiting its potentials, and has concentrated on
developing its natural resources. Industrial and agricultural development,
through scientific research and applied technology, has offered the
community the means by which a comfortable standard of living can be
achieved.
Since its establishment in 1970, KISR has concentrated on its potentials,
and its material and human resources in order to be better able to conduct
scientific research and employ the results in sectorial development. As
would be expected, KJSR has developed its human resources through
training in order to optimize performance and assure success. KISR has
worked collaboratively with many local public and private institutions to
develop energy sources and improve production quality. It has improved fish
resources and culturing through the use of advanced techniques, and has
obtained many patents. Because of its ongoing scientific successes, before
the Iraqi invasion, KISR occupied a distinctive position among the world’s
scientific and research centers, and had developed strong cooperative
relations with world-renowned institutions.
It is ironic that KISR had prosperous working relations with a number of
Iraqi scientific and academic institutions before the Iraqi regime’s invasion
and subsequent seven-month occupation of Kuwait.
7
These relationships were geared toward ameliorating both countries’
potentials in various fields. The invasion brought everything to a standstill.
In the beginning, KISR’ s reconstruction proved both complicated and
difficult for its staff, who had witnessed its previous success, and who
witnessed, as well, the massive destruction inflicted upon it by Iraq’s
occupying troops. Being one of those who saw both pictures, I was
encouraged to preparing this study to document the efforts exerted in the
reestablishment and redevelopment of KJSR. I also wanted to record how
KISR lost its scientific wealth, manpower and infrastructure. These losses
crippled scientific research for over a year, until reconstruction efforts
started, and KISR came back to life. Before that stage, KISR devoted most
of its attention to rebuilding its scientific infrastructure and its five main
components:
- A strategic programme for scientific research.
- Well-trained, specialized, national scientists.
- Modern technologies for scientific research.
- Funding for projects and programmes.
- Databases for various service and production sectors.
These components constituted a major force in scientific research and
the application of related results in the national reconstruction and economic
rehabilitation
processes.
We hope that this study falls within the scientific framework directed at
documenting KISR’ s plight for future generations. I would like to thank all
those in the National Scientific and Technical Information Center (NSTIC)
who were actively involved in the preparation of this study, and those in the
Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait who published it.
Dr. Abdul Hadi Al-Otaibi
KISR Director General
8
Introduction
The Kuwait institute for Scientific Research (KISR) was esta - lished in
two main stages. The first started in 1967, and lasted until 1978,during
which time work was concentrated on building the scientific and research
facilities, developing the manpower needed for active involvement in
national development projects, helping to push forward scientific research,
and promoting public education on the importance of research at all levels.
Attention then shifted from building additional facilities to conducting
applied research in fields of national interest, such as oil and related
industries, aridland agriculture (since Kuwait is a desert country), and
marine culture (since Kuwait has a marine environment).
The second stage began with K1SR’s official establishment in 1979.
Early in this stage, an Amiri Decree 28/198 1, proclaimed KlSR to be a
public institution with an independent charter. This marked the beginning of
the diversification and expansion of KISR’s activities to include the
environment and natural resources, and water and energy sources. KISR
began to provide expertise and counseling to governmental and
nongovernmental institutions. KISR also extended scientific services to the
Gulf and Arab states.
As KISR was embarking on its Third Strategic Programme in July 1990,
the country was invaded by its next-door neighbor, Iraq. Troops marched
into Kuwait, and sabotaged and plundered its scientific, educational, and
cultural institutions. KISR was the first scientific facility to sustain
substantial damage. After liberation, color booklets were published to
documenting the extent of damage inflicted on KISR. However, the study in
hand was deemed a suitable scientific approach to document the ugly events
of the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, and to present details ofjust how much
damage the scientific infrastructure sustained as a result of the Iraqi invasion
and
9
subsequent occupation of Kuwait. It presents a vivid portrait of the extent of
destruction inflicted on national development in Kuwait.
This Study employs the analytical-descriptive approach in portraying
KISR’s preinvasion infrastructure and the subsequent wreak havoc upon it
by the occupying troops, and it outlines the post- liberation rebuilding
efforts. It provides information obtained from interviews with leading
officials in KISR’s various divisions and from the damage reports prepared
at the request of the National Scientific and Technical Information Center
(NSTIC), as well as from Iraqi documents supplied by the Center for
Research and Studies on Kuwait.
This study acquires special importance being an attempt to establish and
convey the extent of damage sustained by the infrastructure for scientific
research in Kuwait, as represented by KISR.
10
Chapter One
A Scientific Edifice on Kuwaiti Soil
Outset of KISR’s Research Activities
The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) was established in
February 1967 by an agreement between the State of Kuwait and the
Arabian Oil Company Ltd. (Japan). By July 1973, KISR was an affiliation
the Council of Ministers. Amiri Decree 28/198 1 set down KISR’s
objectives as to develop applied scientific research. In response to this
decree, intensive development followed, and KISR was officially
pronounced a public institution with an independent charter, supervised by a
Board of Trustees chaired by the State Minister for Cabinet Affairs, with
members representing the following public institutions:
- Kuwait University.
- Ministry of Education.
- Ministry of Planning.
- Ministry of Finance.
- Ministry of Electricity and Water.
- Ministry of Public Health.
- Ministry of Oil.
- Ministry of Public Works.
- Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fisheries Resources.
- Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science.
- Kuwait Petroleum Corporation.
11
- Technical Investment Company.
- Industrial Bank of Kuwait.
In addition to KISR’s director general, each board member had
experience in at least one field of scientific research pursued. Accordingly,
KISR’s objectives were as follows:
- To promote applied scientific research in areas related to industry,
energy, natural resources, food resources and all other major areas of
the national economy.
- To extend counsel to governmental institutions in various fields.
- To draw up a national scientific research policy.
Under Amiri Decree 28/198 1, these objectives were revised to be more
consistent with the new role envisioned by the government for KISR. Herein
the new objectives:
- To undertake scientific research and studies promoting the
advancement of national industry, and to cooperate with appropriate
official authorities to conduct studies aimed at preserving the
environment.
- To encourage Kuwaiti youth to practise scientific research, and to
instil a love of research in their minds.
- To study Kuwait’s natural resources, and determine the best
techniques to exploit them including the existing water and energy
resources, to improve agroproduction techniques and to develop
marine resources in cooperation with appropriate authorities.
- To make research services, and scientific and technological
counsel
available
to
public
and
private
institutions.
To keep pace with the progress of modern science and technology,
and to adopt and adapt such technology to meet local needs.
- To establish and promote ties with institutions of higher education,
and scientific research institutes and centers locally and
internationally, and to promote the exchange of expertise.
- To devote applied research and scientific expertise to promoting the
development objectives of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
member states in particular, and the Arab World in general.
12
Spheres of Work at KISR:
KISR operates in different research and development spheres through its
six research programmes. These programmes aim to achieve the following:
- Promotion of food production locally, with particular emphasis on
foods with proven economic, social and health benefits.
- Enhancement of water resources, preservation of reserves and
rationalization of water usage.
- Meeting of the strategic requirements for the development of the oil
sectors.
- Improvement of current practice in the local industrial and service
sectors.
- Harmonization of modern buildings (i.e.,the artificial environment)
with Kuwait’s traditional environment to meet the country’s everincreasing social needs, while maintaining the national identity and
protecting the environment.
- Application of modern economic analytical tools to serve national
development.
It is understandable that KISR cannot operate alone to achieve the
aforementioned objectives. Rather, KISR contributes to the achievement of
these objectives through applied research and study, scientific counsel,
rationalization of the transfer of technology and its applications, and support
of the effort made by governmental and nongovernmental institutions in the
areas of science and planning.
KISR executes its programmes and projects by applying for patent*s,
offering training courses, and organizing scientific meetings inside Kuwait,
in addition to sponsoring staff training abroad. Applied research and studies
form an integral part of its programmes and projects. Examples of KISR’s
research and scientific services include:
- Baseline research funded through KISR’s annual budget; the
nature of these studies required continuity over several years before
any appreciable results can be observed.
- Contractual research and consultancy, which KISR performs on
request for clients.
- Support of development through counsel and rationalization of the
transfer of technology and its applications.
13
KISR’s areas of research may be divided into the following categories:
- Curative research aimed at solving existing problems in the industrial,
agricultural, environmental, oil and economic sectors.
- Follow-up research aimed at keeping abreast of technological
developments of national interest for their continual assessment under
local conditions.
- Research to develop existing technologies to meet specific national
requirements germane to KISR’s fields of interest.
KISR performs part of its research on a contractual basis. Among its
main clients are the Shuaiba Public Authority, the National Industries
Company, the Ministry of Electricity and Water, the Ministry of Oil, and the
Kuwait Municipality.The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of
Sciences, the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fisheries
Resources, the Environmental Protection Council and other governmental
and nongovernmental agencies also provide funding for some of the
contractual research.
Before the Iraqi invasion, KISR had made considerable progress in the
field of scientific research. This called for the development of and
organizational framework for research through the drawing up of a strategic
research policy.
First: Scientific Policy
KISR plays a pivotal role in the development of a national policy for applied
science.It also has a major role in the implementation of this policy. Since its
establishment in 1967, KISR’s Board of Trustees has steered the country’s
higher-level scientific policy. This involves policy development in the light
of KISR’s mandate, which lays forth its responsibilities and objectives,
based on Amiri Decree 28 /198 1. These responsibilities and objectives are
as follows:
- To develop a research programme every five years, within the
framework of the government’s development programme.
- To asses research activities and revise the new research programme in
the light of sectorial needs with the help of a group of celebrated Arab
and foreign researchers.
- To review accurately the research programme by the Policies and
Programmes Committee, before final submission to the Board.
14
- To develop the programme in its final form, based on the Committee
and the Board recommendations.
Considerations to be observed while developing scientific research
programmes:
- Emphasis is to be on the type of activity, responsiveness to national
requirements and cost-effectiveness.
- National establishments and businessmen are to be involved to avoid
duplication and conflict among the research activities of the various
national scientific establishments .
- Continue emphasis is to be placed on scientific expertise and labour
sufficiency.
Second: Scientific Research Strategy and Related Fields
Scientific policy makers ensure that KISR cooperates with other
governmental scientific institutions, and that all the components of scientific
infrastructure serve to meet national needs in accordance with a well-defined
research strategy in the following areas:
- Food resources development, through added attention to fish and
marine resources, aquaculture, agroproduction, and animal resources.
- Water resources development, through added attention to hydrological
studies and optimum use of water resources.
- Petroleum and petrochemicals, through assessment of crude oil, oil
products, catalytic reactions and polymer technology.
15
- Environmental development, through added attention to research
concerned with building technology environmental protection, and
hydraulic, coastal and geological surveys.
- Industrial production and public utilities, through added attention to
research on industrial operations, public utilities and related
operational techniques.
- Technological progress and transfer of technology, through added
emphasis on applications of solar energy, robotics, lasers, computers,
chemical operations and biological studies
- Energy, industrial, environmental, economic and human resources.
16
KISR’s Organization Chart
Research Divisions:
Following the issuance of Amiri Decree 28/1981, establishing KISR as
an independent public institution, KISR was reorganized to accommodate a
research division system. For the first time, KISR’s organizational units
were distributed into divisions and departments. Hence, the scientific units
turned into six research divisions.
Food Resource Division (FRD):
The food Resource Division (FRD) undertakes baseline, development
and contractual studies, and provides consultancies for the purpose of
developing, upgrading and increasing food and fodder production, applying
modern techniques in food production and managing food and biological
resources.
Work in the FRD is divided into four programmes: Aridland
Agriculture, Mariculture and Fisheries, The FRD used to have a number of
highly equipped, such as the Microbiology, the Genetic Engineering , the
Solid Wastes, the Tissue-Culture , the Poultry and Animal Ecology, the
Food Chemistry, the Immun-ossay, and the Mariculture and Fisheries,
laboratories.
17
18
19
Destruction as seen at the Biomass Pilot PIan-FRD.
Laboratory Production of bacterial vaccines in the Biotechnology Department for
bio-remediation of oil-polluted soil
20
Water Resource Division (WRD):
The Water Resource Division (WRD) undertakes research aimed at
developing local water resources exploitation and management techniques. It
selects and evaluates modern desalination technology and makes decisions
as to their suitability for local use. Moreover, the WRD provides training
programmes to teach Kuwaiti staff water resources management techniques.
The WRD includes two departments: the Water Desalination
Department and the Hydrology Department. It also includes two wastewater
recycling and management units. Before August 2, 1990, there was also a
research unit at the Doha Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant.
A preinvasion view of the Doha Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant
21
Destruction of the Doha Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant
A preinvasion view of the Doha Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant’s Spiral film
22
Destruction of the Pretreatment unit
at the Doha Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant’s feed water site
A preinvasion view of the pretreatment unit at the Doha Reverse Osmosis
Desalination Plant
23
A post-liberation view of the pretreatment unit at the Doha Reverse Osmosis
Desalination Plant
A preinvasion view of the Doha Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant’s control mom
24
A preinvasion view of the Doha Reverse Osmosis
Desalination Plant’s power control room
Destruction of the Doha Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant’s control room
25
Destruction of the Doha Reverse Osmosis
Desalination Plant’s power control room
Petroleum, Petrochemicals and Materials Division (PPMD)
The Petroleum, Petrochemicals and Materials Division (PPMD)
undertakes research for the oil production, refining, and petrochemical
industries sector, in addition to conducting research concerned with the
problem of corrosion. Such studies seek to:
•
•
•
•
•
Optimize oil refining operations.
Establish a detailed database of the types of Kuwaiti oil.
Contribute to solving problems confronting the oil industries.
Improve oil-product specifications.
Minimize corrosion problems in general, and in the oil industries in
particular.
26
• Develop the quality of petrochemical products to meet domestic
needs, and provide channels for the use of local raw materials.
A preinvasion view of the Products Department Laboratory showing the weathering
equipment, with which KISR’s new plastic products are exposed to accelerated
weathering conditions to determine the effect weather has on them
The PPMD’s research programmes include the Crude Oil and Oil
Products Assessment Programme, the Oil Catalysis Refining Operations
Programme, the Corrosion Programme and the Chemical Processing
Programme.
Before August 2, 1990, the PPMD had advanced laboratories and
facilities for the assessment of crude oil and related products, the analysis of
catalysts, the evaluation of lubrication oil, the assessment of polymers, and
corrosion research, as well as several pilot plants for the simulation of
industrial conditions.
27
A post-liberation view of the PPMD’s pilot-plant equipment, which is used in
providing extended technical support to national oil refineries
Environmental and Earth Sciences Division (EESD):
The Environmental and Earth Sciences Division (EESD) undertakes
several activities related to environmental protection and management,
hydraulics and coastal engineering and geological surveys through the
performance of the following activities:
• Assessment and analysis of various environmental factors and natural
resources in Kuwait’s desert.
• Analysis of propagation patterns of oil pollutants from various
sources.
• Assessment of natural operations in the marine and coastal
environments.
• Development of environmental designs and plans for vital
development research activities along the coast.
• Performance of prediction studies to determine the propagation
patterns of pollutants in the marine and coastal environments.
• Performance of industrial waste assessment studies, and provision of
technical counsel on recommended methods of treatment.
28
A post-liberation view of KISR’s Crude Oil Distillation Pilot Plant
29
• Contribution to public safety and human health plans.
• Toxic analysis of various materials.
Before August 2, 1990, the EESD had a number of highly advanced
laboratories, such as the Hydraulics laboratory, the Marine Pollution
Laboratory, and the Satellite Images Treatment Laboratory. The EESD
consists of the Environmental Sciences Department, the Hydraulics and
Coastal Engineering Department, the Geological Survey Group and the
Remote Sensing Group.
Techno-Economics Division (TED):
The Techno-Economics Division (TED) was very active before August
2, 1990. It played a major role in providing decision makers inside and
outside KISR with analytical tools and backup decisionmaking systems to
help achieve an optimum allocation of resources, step up productivity and
facilitate national decision making, planning, management and control.
A I)reinvasion view of TED
30
TED achieves its objectives through economic studies con- with public
issues, mathematical modeling, econometric appliand operation research;
feasibility and hazard assessment and quality control and decision backup
studies.
A post-liberation view of the extent of destruction
sustained by TED during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait
Engineering Division (ED):
The Engineering Division (ED) undertakes research and experiments
that lend support to governmental activities in the field of engineering,
energy, and building materials and systems. It also introduces and applies
modern technology to these fields. The research activities performed by the
ED are divided into the following programmes:
- Energy Studies Programme
- Energy Preservation Programme
31
A preinvasion view of solar-energy collector dishes
at KISR’s experimental station in Sulaibiya
A preinvasion view of the solar radiation, relative humidity and wind dynamics
measurement platform
32
- Building Systems, Materials and Technology Programme.
- Modern Measurement Technology, and Construction Control
Programme.
- Information Technology Programme.
Before August 2, 1990, the ED included several laboratories equipped
with sophisticated, state-of-the-art equipment, including weathering
chambers where thermal experiments were conducted to determine the
effects of heat on walls and ceiling partitions. The ED also had a number of
structural design and analysis computer systems; a database for information
on the coefficients of strength, compression, and displacement; an infrared
imaging system; a micro treatment laboratory; and equipment to test
pressures, and mobile and immobile loads.
Support Units:
KISR also had five support units to back the research divisions such as
Central Analytical Laboratory, National Scientific and Technical
Information Centre, Information System Department, Division of Training
and Technical Workshops.
Central Analytical Laboratory (CAL):
The Central Analytical Laboratory (CAL) is one of the main research
support units at KISR. It undertakes scientific analysis for KISR’s research
divisions, governmental scientific centers, and research agencies in the Gulf.
Its scope of work includes analyses in the fields of oil, water, food,
agriculture, the environment, geology, industry, and engineering. CAL
applies the latest analytical methodologies and develops them to meet the
needs of research undertaken at KISR.
CAL used to have wide scientific relations with renowned scientific
laboratories, which helped enrich its expertise. Refine its performance and
develop its reputation.
33
A preinvasion view of an oil material analysis by magnetic nuclear resonance
A preinvasion view of an electronic analyzer for solid inorganic samples
34
A post-liberation view of an electronic analyzer for solid inorganic sample,
The EPMA JXA 8600MX
National Scientific and Technical Information Center (NSTIC)
The National Scientific and Technical Information Center (NSTIC)
swiftly developed into an advanced information center, with great
capabilities. In 1976, NSTIC was reservoir for scientific information and
documentation. Later, it became one of the most advanced scientific
information centers in the Arab World. Its objectives include the following:
- Creation and development of basic groups of information sources in
different
scientific
and
technological
fields
that
are
of interest to KISR and Kuwait.
- Dissemination of scientific and technological information to users
inside and outside KISR through the development of user information
programmes to meet the evergrowing need for information.
35
A premvasion view of NSTIC
Destniction sustained by NSTIC
36
A post-liberation view of NSTIC
- Designing of computer software to support NSTIC’s operations and
services, including the development of a computerized indexing
programme, and cataloging of periodicals and other materials, such as
borrowing and incoming books.
- Fulfilling the role of a national depository for government
publications and reports; a special source group for Kuwait is
maintained within NSTIC’s facilities, and is available to users inside
and outside KISR.
- Training of information specialists, librarians and library assistants.
- Encouraging cooperation and coordination with regional and
international organizations operating in the same field.
NSTIC consists of four departments: the Technical Services
Department, the Information Services Department, the Kuwait Information
Center, and the Information Systems Group.
37
Before August 2, 1990 NSTIC staff, including information specialists,
technicians and administrators, numbered 44. NSTIC has taken care to
develop needed national cadres-particularly information spcialists-through
training and study.
Since its establishment, NSTIC had managed to build a complete set of
scientific and technological information sources to meet the needs of
researchers for the various projects and programmes at KISR. This set of
information contained highly specialized research material, and had grown
to include:
-
55.000 books and bibliographies
2.000 periodicals
US patents (from 1972 until now)
350.000 technical reports stored on microfiche at NSTIC
Sets of the most recent international standards
A collection of sources on oceanography, sea creatures and fish
resources
- A complete collection of sources about Kuwait
In addition, NSTIC possesses several databases operating froin
independent stations, providing on-line search services in applied
technology, and several other databases of scientific information stored on
CDROM. The local databases that NSTIC was able to build are two
information databases for Arabic and foreign books, an on-line database, a
database for KISR reports, a database for periodicals, a database for the
unified periodicals list, a database for the Gulf, a database for maricultare
and fish resources, a database for information on Kuwait and a database for
technical information. NSTIC provides scientific and technological
information to researchers and students in Kuwait and the Gulf Region.It
develops and executes all projects and programmes related to information
services to meet user needs.
38
Information Systems Department (ISD):
The Information Systems Department (ISD) provides computer services
and develops information systems on the divisional level to support
operational and strategic decision making, and upgrade scientific
applications to boost projects and scientific programmes. The ISD provides
technical support to office automation currently used in all of KISR’s
administrative and financial divisions. The ISD also helps manage data and
information used for planning and trains national cadres in computers and
information systems.
Before the Iraqi invasion, the ISD provided user services through
three mainframe computers:
- IBM—3090.
- KISRO1,anll3M—4341.
- KISRO2,anlBM-4341.
The ISD also had 300 personal computers and 700 terminals prior to the
invasion.
A preinvasion view of KISR’s mainframe computer
39
Plunder of the mainframe computer and hardware
Computer Mainframe Room After liberation
40
The preinvasion achievements of the ISD included the development of
over 600 applications for the research divisions: it also participated in the
five-years national development plan, the Doha Desalination by ReverseOsmosis project, career planning, system development and staff training.
Division of Training (DOT):
The Division of Training (DOT) undertakes to determine the volume of
the cadre required to implement KISR’ s research plans and programmes,
and career development plans. DOT plans and develops short- and long-term
training programmes, in addition to career development plans, to provide
KISR with the well-trained, qualified cadre needed. It also encourages
Kuwaitis to join scientific and research activities.
A preinvasion view of DOT computer training room at KISR
41
Destruction at DOT
A post-liberation view of a DOT computer training room at KISR
42
Technical Workshops:
KISR successfully set up a number of technical workshops to support its
research divisions, before August 2, 1990. Designs were turned into
machinery an equipment to meet work needs. The workshops included, an
electronic workshop, a workshop and a glassblowing workshop. These
workshops provided services, designs and maintenance to meet KISR’s
requirements and to allow KISR to achieve greater self-sufficiency.
A post-liberation view of machinery in the Mechanical Workshop
43
44
Chapter ‘Iwo
Bright Achievements
Scientific Achievements
Indeed, KISR is an outstanding asset in the Gulf Region, the Arab
World and the third world countries. It has deservedly acquired a respected
name and a good position in the field of science and research. It has also
worked in an advisory capacity to serve development purposes in various
fields. Among the 50 scientific in third world countries, KISR ranked fifth
prior to the invasion.
KJSR has received a number of international awards for its prominent
scientific achievements, including an award presented to the IVEFD in 1991
by the academy of third world Countries’ Scientific Centers, in appreciation
of the MFD’s research in the development of local fish species ( Heniochus
acuminatus and bolty ). In addition, the International Organization for the
protection of Intellectual Property has registered the intellectual
proprietorship of many scientific inventions developed by KISR. Many
patents acquired by KISR have been registered in various countries
worldwide.
KISR’s success did not come from a vacuum, as the government of
Kuwait had supplied all the material and human resources needed for its
development. A site 14,000 square kilometers was allocated for KISR, a
modular reverse-osmosis desalination station was set up in Doha, and a
biological and mariculture research station was established in Salmiya in
1978 for the FRD.
Through the tasks and objectives set forth, KISR has led the
national research movement in the country and drawn up Kuwait’s
scientific policy. KISR fulfilled its national duties by setting up a se
45
ries of plans in strategic research programme form, and adopting a specified
scientific approach to the implementation of projects, based on a clearly
defined time schedule consisting of specified time periods.
• Plan One: the Strategic Programme, lasted two years (i.e., 1977-79)
• Plan Two: the First Strategic Programme, lasted five years (i.e.,
1979-84), during which time, the research management system was
introduced, as was the division of KISR into organizational units,
divisions (i.e., FRD, PPMD, EESD, TED, ED) and departments.
• Plan Three: the Second Strategic Programme, lasted five years (i.e.,
1985-89), during which time, the research programme concept was
introduced for the first time, the WRD was established, and a
tremendous need for the output of science and technology emerged in
the
fields
of
industry
and
agriculture.
• Plan Four: the Third Strategic Plan, was supposed to last from 1989
to 1994; work started on this plan in July 1990; however, all projects
in this plan were disrupted by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
These Strategic research programmes resulted in many achievements in
the fields of scientific research that KISR focused on. KISR owes those
achievements to its highly experienced staff; to its policy to train in order to
develop manpower and provide needed, skilled researchers and technicians;
and to the level of progress attained by the following KISR facilities:
•
•
•
•
•
CAL
NSTIC
Doha Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant
MFD Station
Mechanical and Electronic Workshops
KISR’s various research divisions accomplished much during
the years before the invasion.
46
FRD:
The FRD has carried out a number of projects of national importance in
the areas of food security, environmental development and protection, and
pollution control. Among the achievements made by the FRD are the
following:
• Development of a single-celled protein from hydrocarbon derivatives
for animal feed.
• Bio-conversion of Kuwait’s cellulose wastes into protein-rich animal
feed.
• Development of a thin-layer algae culturing and development system
to produce fish feed.
• Development of an oil sludge treatment technique.
• Development of industrial and municipal wastewater treatment
techniques that produce water suitable for agricultural use.
• Development of industrial solid-waste treatment techniques for the
Shuaiba Industrial Area.
• Initiation of a number of commercial-level research studies and
experiments on fish culturing for species such as Heniochus
accuminatus and Cephalophis miniatus.
• Progress in methanol fermentation technology.
• Initiation of successful research studies and experiments for the
production of new desert-tolerant agricultural crops.
• Establishment of a rangeland database for the protection of wildlife.
• Development of an agricultural development strategy (for both
animals and plants).
• Development of a plan for the improvement and protection of the
urban environment.
WRD:
The WRD has made a number of prominent achievements in
the field of water resources development:
47
•
•
•
•
Development of reverse osmosis desalination technology.
Establishment of a database for hydrological information.
Development of new technology to assess artificial well injection.
Assessment of remedial measures taken to counter the adverse effects
of the overuse of underground water.
• Performance of a number of research studies on optimum
management and exploitation of water resources in industry and
agriculture.
• Development of techniques for the utilization of industrial and treated
water in artificial well injection to build up national strategic water
reserves.
PPMD:
Before the invasion, the PPMD achieved the following:
• Development of catalyst reactivating operations to study the
performance of such agents in oil refining.
• Provision of technical services, such as characterization of catalysts,
to national refineries.
• Supply of technical and research services, such as assessment of
marine
and
lubrication
oils,
and
analysis
of
coke residue, to boost the national oil industries.
• Identification of the impact of storage on the quality of refined oil
products and materials.
• Analysis of sea-induced corrosion, and solutions for problems
resulting
from
the
corrosion
of
corrosionresistant alloys.
• Assessment of the performance of industrial marine dyes and
corrosion inhibitors.
• Development of degradable and soluble fertilizer mulch films.
• Development of multipurpose petrochemical materials for use in
building, soil stabilization and well boring.
48
KISR also obtained 13 patents between 1987 and 1990 for inventions
and the processing and developing of materials. The patents were registered
at the US Patents Office, and in a number of the world’s industrialized
countries.
EESD:
EESD accomplished the following prior to the invasion:
• Collection and analysis of baseline data on the marine, land and air
environments in Kuwait.
• Listing of all natural environmental problems, and problems caused
by human activities, and appropriate recommendations to remedy
them.
• Development of environmental protection strategies for many
institutions concerned with public health and safety.
• Performance of studies assessing the effects of current environmental
activities on the marine and coastal environments.
TED:
TED has achieved the following:
• Contribution to the development of the national five- year plans.
• Provision of models and evaluation of the effects of various economic
policies on national economic growth.
• Participation in the development of an economic strategy for Kuwait.
• Completion of a special study for the establishment of an information
center at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Assessment of the combative readiness of the Ministry of Defense’s
troops.
• Development, reorganization and service upgrading for the
communications sector.
49
ED:
The ED successfully accomplished the following:
• Development of the first national code to save energy.
• Planning and execution of the computer technology Arabization
programme, which resulted in the production of the Arabized fax and
intelligent typewriter.
• Participation in laying out the Arab industrial 1SMO standards.
• Development of a long-term study on greenhouse agriculture airconditioning.
• Development of the first Arabized telex system.
• Registration of the patents on the Arabized fax.
• Provision of counsel to the National Housing Authority on housing
policy.
• Expansion of a Braille-based system to teach the blind.
• Development of laser-based remote-sensing techniques to detect oil
spills.
• Extensive investigation of the economic and technical feasibility of
using solar energy in Kuwait.
• Contribution to joint studies on the interlining of the GCC states by a
unified power grid.
KISR’s Scientific Prestige:
Before August 2, 1990, KISR held an outstanding prestige among the
regional, Arab and international scientific research inst - tutes. This was in
part due to its active role in the economic development of Arab countries.
KISR’s Prominent Scientific Position:
International reports, submitted by professor Abadeer Tiyam,
representative of the Director General of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in his capacity as Head of
the Damage Assessment Committee dispatched to Kuwait
50
After liberation, stated that prior to the invasion, KISR ranked fifth among
fifty scientific research institutes in third world countries.
This recognition was due to the fact that KISR was equipped with the
latest equipment, and was provided with needed scientific and material
facilities such as advanced laboratories, a modern information center, an
advanced computer center and a group of highly experienced research staff.
KISR’s fifth-place ranking was based on international reports on the position
and repute of various scientific institutions.
Eastern Scientific Research Institutions:
Optimum Method of Scientific Research:
Referring to the status quo of science and technology in the world,
UNESCO said in its 1989 report: “The style pursued by Kuwait in steering
scientific research through KISR was exemplary”. This is evident through
the industrial research done by KISR, and the scientific and technical
services it has provided to the economic and industrial sectors.
Outstanding Scientific Capabilities:
Prior to the invasion, KISR assumed a prominent role in the sphere of
research and development, particularly in the field of maricuhure, thanks to
its state-of the-art scientific facilities such as the mariculture research
station, the research vessel the Bahith (the Researcher), the solar energy
research station, the agricultural experimental station and NSTIC.
Before the August 2, 1990, KTSR endeavored to attain international
standards in dealing with regional problem such as the desertification
phenomenon, and in attempting to utilize solar energy at environmentally
convenient rates.
51
52
Chapter Three
Aggression against KISR’s Facilities
Plunder and Destruction of KISR’s Facilities
What happened in Kuwait at the hands of the invaders was not the work
of normal people, or people whose religion is Islam. The first caliph of
Islam, Abu Bakr, instructed the leader of his army to Al- Sham (Syria)
saying: “Do not kill a woman, a child, or an elderly person; do not pull down
private property; do not kill sheep or cattle except for food; do not torch or
cut down palm trees; do not seize others’ property and do not behave
cowardly fashion. The Iraqi regime’s military and nonmilitary cliques
plundered, stole and damaged most of KISR’ s facilities, including
laboratories, electronic machinery, scientific instruments and engineering
equipment, all of which had cost huge sums of money, and had taken many
years to acquire.
Some of the scientific property at KISR that Iraq’s occupying troops
plundered or sabotaged included field research facilities and research
material. The field research facilities included laboratories, field research
stations, sophisticated instruments and equipment, and components of
KJSR’s scientific infrastructure. The following are examples of what was
plundered, sabotaged or destroyed:
CAL:
CAL was one of KISR’s most vital facilities. It provided technical
services to all research divisions in the field of materials analysis. The
damage sustained by CAL included the destruction of advanced equipment
such as a nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus, a gas chromatograph, an
infrared spectrophotometer, a scanning electron microscope, an inductivelycoupled plasma spectroscope, an X-ray refractometer, a gas chromatographmass spectrometer, a high performance liquid chromatograph and other
analytical apparatus.
53
Doha Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant:
This plant was a model facility for water desalination using reverse
osmosis technology. Due to the vital importance of water to life, KISR took
great care to develop this plant, and had provided it with state-of-the-art
desalination technology to determine the best and most cost-effective
desalination technique for use in Kuwait.
Research Vessels:
KJSR took considerable care to collect coastal and marine data for use
in its various research activities. KISR had several vessels to
collect field data among which were the following:
The fishing and research Ship ‘Bahith
54
• The ship ‘Bahith’ with a weight of 679 tons, a length of 43.62 meters,
a width of 10.31 meters, and a depth of 3.45 meters, had a number of
data analysis laboratories and was fully equipped with marine datarecording equipment and an echo- calculator.
• The vessel ‘Abhath’ with a length of 20.8 meters, a width of 6.0
meters, and a depth of 1.0 meters, was fuiiy equipped for shallow
water data-collection.
• A number of speedboats were used for diving, surveying and nearisland sampling.
Laboratories and Special Workshops:
Before the Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait, the scientific
divisions at KISR had a number of laboratories and specialty workshops that
had been built and equipped for special scientific research purposes. Among
the laboratories that were destroyed were the following:
• The Hydraulics Laboratory, which consisted of a main unit in the
EESD occupied an area of 5300 square meters and contained a wavetank and two canals with different dimensions for the study of wave
patterns.
• The Marine Pollution Laboratory, which was also part of the EESD,
was used to measure pollution of the marine environment with organic
and inorganic materials, and to determine the related impact of such
pollution on marine and coastal life forms.
• The Pilot Plant Laboratory, which was part of the PPMD, was used to
produce plastic mulch films for agricultural fertilization.
• The Oil Assessment Laboratory and Facilities, which were part of the
PPMD, were used to assess oil, characterize materials, analyze
catalysts, and measure corrosion and identify its causes.
55
A preinvasion view of Pilot Plant Laboratory
Destruction sustained by the Pilot Plant Laboratory
56
• The Biotechnology Laboratory, which was part of the FRD, was a
major research tool in technological applications aimed at developing
agriculture and improving the environment through the fields of
genetic engineering and food security.
• The Rangeland and Agroproduction Research Station in Sulaibiya
area, which stood on a 20-square kilometer area, was designed to
protect wildlife, and for scientific research on rangelands, crops and
animal production (i.e., sheep and poultry). Various thoroughbred
species of sheep were developed such as the Arabian sheep the naemi
and njdi, over ten years of study and research. All sheep and poultry
present at the station during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait were
killed. Mines and explosives were planted around the station, making
it inaccessible and dangerous.
• The Tissue-Culture Laboratory, which was part of the FRD, was used
for tissue-culture, which was meant to increase the agroproduction of
desired plants and crops.
A preinvasion view of a fodder mixing unit
at the Agricultural Research Station in Kabd
57
Destruction at the Agricultural Research Station in Kabd
58
A iost-liberation view of the rehabilitated Agricultural Research Station in Kabd
59
Traces of devastation inflicted on provender building,
agricultural commercial zone at Kabd area
Destruction at the Agricultural Research Station in Kabd
60
Research Material:
In addition to plundering or sabotaging KISR’s research facilities, the
Iraqi troops looted or destroyed research material such as information
sources, and computer software and hardware, which enable researchers to
obtain information, monitor document and analyze data. KISR possessed
such material the true value of which as a source of the world’s information
for researchers is hard to estimate. It is impos-sible to estimate the value of
such aid as an accumulative record of preinvasion scientific achievements
and research data. The material that was lost is represented by the following
two KISR facilities:
NSTIC:
Before the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, KISR took great pride in NSTTC
as a repository for its collection of information sources, such as books,
periodicals, technical reports, patents, and standards, in addition to the
databases mentioned in Chapter One of this book. These sources provided
powerful support for scientific research at the local and regional level.
NSTIC was also a center for information networks around the world. It
served many different sectors, such as the oil, energy, industrial, agricultural
and environmental sectors.
Reports from international organizations have concurred that the biggest
loss sustained by KISR as a result of the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait was the
damage inflicted on NSTIC’s facilities, archives and equipment. Thus, the
Iraqi invaders must have realized that KISR’s property was of great value, so
they spared no effort in sabotaging, plundering and carrying off what they
could to Iraq.
The following is a list of NSTIC’s property that was taken to
Iraq:
Collections of information sources:
• 55,000 books and other references.
• 1,400 periodicals covering more than 15 years.
• 350,000 technical reports on CD-ROMs for easy access.
61
• 20 sets of standards specifications.
• 1.5 million patents.
Local Databases:
• For books, and Arabic and foreign references (containing information
on
49.047
English
books
and
5953
Arabic
books).
• For KISR reports (containing 3000 reports).
• For serials (containing information on 8,500 periodicals and serials
available
in
regional
libraries
and
information
centers).
• For information of Kuwait (containing 800 entries).
• For information on the Arabian Gulf (containing 659 entries).
• For Kuwait University books (first established in 1984).
• For the Kuwait Fund for Economic Development (containing 8,186
entries).
• For NTIS technical reports (containing 342,142 reports).
• For on-line searches.
• For CD-ROMs.
ISD:
(The lists of equipment here could be summarized into a general list.
It is too detailed for the average reader).
KISR spent a great deal of money to establish a state-of-the-art
computer center in an earnest effort to keep pace with scientific progress.
The center was staffed with highly qualified personnel. Considerable
damage was inflicted on this center. It was systematically dismantled and all
its modern equipment was moved to Iraq.The following is a list of
equipment and facilities that were dismantled and moved to Iraq or
destroyed:
• One IBM 3090, model 150 E, CPU, with 32 MB of RAM
(KUKISROO).
• One IBM 4341, model M02, CPU, with 16 MB of RAM (KUKISR
01).
62
• One IBM 4341, model M02, CPU, with 8 MB of RAM (KUKISR 02)
Terminals:
• 125 IBM video display units, models 3178, 3278, 3179, 3279, 3290,
3292 and 3192G, monochrome and color, and some with Arabic!
English only, and APL/ English keyboards.
• 77 Telex 278/2 and 078.
• 136 CD 7800 video display units.
• 12 Tektronix graphic display units (four model 4105, one model
41099, one model 4114, two model 618, one model 4207, and two
model 4107.
• Approximately 300 IBM and IBM-compatible personal computers.
Tape Drivers:
• Four IBM 3420, model 8, tape drivers.
• One IBM 3480, model A22, cartridge tape control unit, and two
model B 22 magnetic tape units with one automatic cartridge loader.
Direct access storage devices (DASDs):
• One IBM 3380 DASD, model AJ4, with four volumes
GB.
• One IBM 3380 DASD, model BK4, with four volumes
GB.
• Eight IBM 3380 DASDs, model AA4, with 16 volumes
GB.
• One IBM 3380 DASD, model B04, with four volumes
GB.
DASD controllers:
• One IBM 3880, model D 2.3, storage controller.
• Two IBM 3880, model D 001, storage controllers.
• One IBM 3380, model 3, storage controller.
63
totaling 2.4
totaling 7.2
totaling 6.3
totaling 2.4
Communication lines:
• Eight dial-up lines for remote users.
• Eight leased lines (one per location at Doha, Salmiya, NCMC, the
Ministry of Finance, Special Project Group, Kuwait University, Saudi
Arabia, and Water Resources.
Communication and cluster controllers:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
One IBM 3705, model M 83, with 16 lines.
One IBM 3725, model , with 40 lines.
One Comten 3650, model II, with 64 lines.
One IBM 3274, model 91R, with 8 ports.
One IBM 3174, model 15 C, with 8 ports.
One IBM 3174, model Oil, with 32 ports.
One IBM 3174, model ilL, with 32 ports.
One IBM 3274, model 31 D, with 32 ports.
One IBM 7171, model, with 64 assyn ports.
Two Telex 274, model C, with 8 ports.
One Comterm 6174, model Oil, with 32 ports.
One Comterm 6174, model Oil, with 32 ports (plus 24 assyn ports).
One CIE 4000 remote terminal control unit.
Printers:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Four QMS laser graphics pager printers.
One IBM 4254, model 020, line printer.
Two IBM 3203, model 5, line printers.
One Telex 289 C line printer.
Two Tektronix 4695, 8 color printers.
One 4631 ink-jet printer.
55 QMS and KISS-plus laser printers.
One Cal Comp 1044 plotter.
Four Cal Comp M 84 desktop plotters.
64
Miscellaneous:
• One IBM 3814 Switching Management System to permit .perpheral
switching between CPUs.
• Two IBM 3277 graphic attachments.
• One Tektronix digitizing tablets.
• Two Tektronix 4696 hard copy units.
• Two BASF Hitachi channel extensors, model 6055.
• Two BASF Hitachi channel extensors, model 6044.
Data including all backup tapes that were used to store applied data and
programmes, in addition to backup and original operational tapes
• Accessories:
-
Cooling system for an IBM-3 090- 150 E, Liebert.
UPS with a diesel-operated generator.
Two air filters for the computer room.
Five cooling units for computer systems, two Airdale, three
Liebert, and one Hitachi for the UPS.
- Computer system stand-base.
• Computer Operations Department Building.
• Almost all applications documents and references.
• Others:
-
Safety equipment (automated fire-extinguishing system).
Emergency lighting system.
Computer room pass-code access system.
Tape storage shelves.
Tape cabinets.
Two fire-resistant and antitheft tape cabinets.
Due to the amount of damage sustained by KISR’ s infrastructure, a
consulting firm was hired to carry out an extensive study in August 1991, to
estimate the degree of damage inflicted on KISR. The study divided the
losses into three main categories:
- Destruction of buildings, power networks and utilities.
- Destruction or removal of laboratories, equipment, computers,
libraries, machinery, etc.
65
- Losses resulting from the cessation of research activities, and
related income.
The study estimated the losses to be KD 3.9 million in the first category,
KD 38.74 million in the second category, and KD 119 million in the third
category. This brings the total amount of losses sustained by KISR as a
result of the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait to over KD 161 million, which was
in large part (i.e., 73.6%) the result of losses incurred by the cessation of
research activities. Only 26.3% of the losses were the result of the
plundering of KISR’s property and equipment, and the destruction of its
buildings. In December 1993 the Public Authority for Compensation
assigned a consultant to estimate the value of compensation claims
submitted by KJSR to the United Nations Commission for Compensating the
losses resulting from the Iraqi Occupation of Kuwait. The total value of
those claims was estimated at US $ 452 million, or approximately KD 150
million.
Statement by Eyewitnesses
Eyewitnesses statements confirmed the amount of damage sustained by
KISR’s infrastructure during the Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait.
KISR staff members, who stayed in Kuwait for various lengths of time
during the Iraqi occupation, reported witnessing the systematic dismantling
and plundering of KISR’s properties. The following are excerpts of
statements by some of the eyewitnesses.
WRD Director:
He was in Kuwait for two months. During his frequent visite to KISR,
he observed the damage that was inflicted on the Department of Hydraulics.
He said: “Iraqi occupation troops, according to the orders of their superiors,
systematically dismantled mobile equipment and loaded it, along with
furniture, laboratory instruments, computer hardware and books, into lorries.
Failing to dismantle immobile equipment, they totally or partially destroyed
it”.He added: “The equipment of the Doha Reverse Osmosis Desalination
plant, which
66
was the first of its kind in the region, was plundered, and its remaining
components were destroyed and rendered inoperable. The rehabilitation cost
could reach KD. 7,576,700”.
According to the statement of……. , the adverse effects of the plunder
and destruction were in no way comparable to those of the cessation of
research activities in either the…… or….. the department. This situation was
expected to persist until after the liberation, when both departments were
rehabilitated and reequipped. However, the invaluable research data
archives, which were lost in the process, are irreplaceable.
This eyewitness account was corroborated by the reports submitted by
Price Waterhouse. In their report, the historical value of old research was
rated according to reference values assigned by the researchers, as indicated
in table 1.
Table 1
Duration of
Research (yr)
Scientific Reference
Value (%)
7
30
6
40
5
55
4
70
3
90
2
100
1
100
67
A Researcher:
She Said: “When Iraqi troops overran Kuwait on August 2, 1990, the
first thing that come to my mind was the Central Analytical Lab where I
worked. My biggest concern was the information and data that I had been
compiling on a project for nine months, and was almost done. I spent the
next few days deeply concerned. Then I drove to KISR, and was astounded
to find that the lab, or what was left of it, was turned into a swamp, with lots
of broken instruments on the floor, torn books scattered everywhere, and a
bunch of Iraqi soldiers who seemed too busy fixing their lunch to mind my
presence”. “I deplored my wasted efforts, and cried for the loss of my
research work, which I had been preparing for the upcoming conference on
food security that was scheduled for April 1991.
Manager of the Petroleum Technology Department:
He had worked at KISR since 1982. He had been out of Kuwait since
July 2, 1990, but had reported to work on July 24, 1990, a short while before
the invasion. He said: “I spent the last days of KISR negotiating with a
company over the development of a KNPC oil refinery. I had left the papers
with my notes on this matter in my office. I also left the blueprints of
computer programme that I had been working on for six years for the
Petroleum Technology Department. Everything was stolen”. He added: “I
saw the Iraqi occupation troops dump sophisticated, costly equipment into
lorries. I also saw the Central Analytical Laboratory being emptied of its
contents. I was particularly amazed at how one of the giant pieces of
equipment had simply disappeared; it needed specialized experts to
dismantle it”.
A Researcher in the Biotechnology Department:
He said: “My office was full of scientific books, technical references,
and reports, which I had collected during my work at KISR 1982 to 1990.
When I went to KISR a short time after the invasion, I was disappointed to
find
my
office
ransacked
and
empty”.
He
added:
“Those who did the plundering and robbery must have been experts.
68
They took away 15 project reports, in addition to a complete archive of
project data”. He continued by saying that: “The real loss sustained by KISR
was the projects, which cost a lot and were interrupted halfway, and could
not possibly be reactivated due to the loss of equipment needed for them,
and the loss of relevant data. For example, the department had an
experimental project that started in 1980, at the cost of KD 20 million. The
project was disrupted and could not be revived”.
Incrimination Iraqi Documents:
Anyone who reads the documents left behind by the Iraqis is shocked to
realize that KISR was the target of a premeditated aggression, unfortunately
masterminded by officials at the Iraqi Higher Education and Scientific
Research Ministry. Some of those officials had had contact with KISR
before the invasion, and they had benefited from KISR’s capabilities.
There were many incriminating Iraqi documents that were gathered as
evidence of Iraq’s aggressive invasion of Kuwait; a few are mentioned on
the following pages. KISR’s property was dislocated to Iraq, where it came
to be considered the property of the Iraqi Ministry of Industry and Military
Industrialization.
Protection:
The documents are presented in chronological order to reflect
the events as they occurred.
69
Document 1
An Administrative Decree of 27 August, 19990, appointing
Dr Nagah Abboud Hussein Assistant Director General of
KISR and holding his office on 20 August 1990.
In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
The Republic of Iraq
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
No: 1
7/8/1990
Administrative Decree 1/1990
Subj: Discharging Duties
According to the Ministerial order 13135 of 19/8/1990, issued by the
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Administrative
and Legislative Department, the Assistant Dr Nagah Abboud Hussein, The
Director General of the Marine Science Centre attended his job as an
Assistant Director General of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research and
discharged his duties on 20/8/1 990.
Please read and take necessary measures.
Dr Nagah Abboud Hussein
Assistant Director General
A copy to:
1) Ministry of Higher Education! Minister’s Oflice
2) Al-Basra University Campus
3) Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Administrative and
Legislative Dept
4) Maritime Science Centre/Basra University
70
Document 2
An Administrative Decree of 12/9/1990 appointing directors of KISR
divisions.
In The Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Date: 6/9/1990
Administrative Decree 1
According to the jurisdiction entitled to us by the Ministerial Decree 13135
of 16 Safar, 1411 H, equivalent to 6/9/1990, the following names are
appointed as the positions opposite each:
1) Ms Hiba Yousef Awdah
2) Mr Hussein al-Qoqa
3) Dr Moharninad Abdullah Mostafa
4) Dr Dhiya al-Bakry
5) Dr Hamed al-Aidi
6) Dr Mohammad Haidar
7) Dr Hishain Ghaleb
8) Mr Saleh Ayoub
9) Dr Madi Kazim Gabir
Director, Administrative Affairs Dept
Director, Financial Affairs Dept
Director, Suppleinant Services Dept
Director,
Water,
Terrain,
Enviromnent and Science Dept
Director, Petroleum and Engineering
Dept
Director, Foodstuffs Resources Dept
Director General Consultant
Director, Policies and Planning Dept
Director, Fishery and Marine Planting
Dept
Dr Nagah Abboud
Director General
12/9/1990
71
Document 3
A letter addressed to the Director of the Commercial Bank of 13
September,
1990 requesting the payment of the salaries of KISR staff (the salaries
reflect the labour force brought to KISR from Iraq intending to
dislocate it to Iraq)
n the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
The Iraqi Republic
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
No: 131
13/9/1990
The Commercial Bank
Mr Director
Greetings
Attached a list of the salaries of KISR staff the simm of KD 63228.164
(Sixty three thousand two hundred and twenty eight dinar and 164 fils).
Please pay the salaries in cash and discredit them from our current account
No 22-01-00075/5 and inform us.
Thanks for your cooperation and accept our greatest appreciation.
KISR Assistant Director General
17/9/1990
72
Document 4
Administrative decree of 15 September 1990 issued by the Ministry of
Industry and Military Industrialisation naming the personnel and
trucks to transport KISR constituents.
In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Ministry of Industry and Military Industrialization
Petrochemical Project.
No: 217s/3263
10/9/1990
Secret
Admniiustrative Decree No 722
With reference to administrative decree No 735 of 2/9/1990, the following
personnel are sent to Kuwait Governorate starting from 11/9/1990 till they
cover their mission headed by Dr Saleh Mohammad Hamad for transporting
KISR constituents to Iraq. Use the trucks with the numbers attached
Names:
Dr Mansj Hained Mahmoud
Lateef Azab Salem
lyad Azzeldeen Khorshed
Mohaimnad Said Mahdi
Khalaf Alunad Saleh
Abbas Fadhil Hassan
Mohamnmad Ahmad Fouad
AIaa Haidar Saleh
Saad Hassan Attyia
Samir Saleh Abbas Mohammad
Dr Imad Yousef Yacoub
Mohammad Abdulkareem
Haidar Sadiq Yousef
Sadiq Mosa Hussein
Dawood Hussein
Saleh Ali Yaseen
Hamnza Khalaf Mohamniad
Saad Zeedan Khalaf
Hainid Dawood Solaiman
Jassim Mohamnud Abdullali
Dr Imad Solaiman Shams uldeen
Hussein Dewai
Haidar Fadhl Rouzoqi
Haidr Fadhl Solairnan
Taha Mohammad Sharnran
Baha Miften Hussein
Malik All Mohammad
Abdulridha Samar Fiel
Yaseen Taha Haidar
Raheem Haroon leed Najm
Shawqi Taleb Ali
Loai Iced Ali
Amer Abdulridha
Khaled Eeed Awaad
Tahir Manis Gami’
Salamn Toma Had
Sadiq Waheedaha
Haidar Hameed
Sabah Abd AiQad
Issa Moharnmnad
73
Haidar Kazim Hadi
Jassiin All Salman
Mohammed Gabbar Dawood
Hussein Jloab Hamad
Raad Hammed Falid
Salirn Mohammad Zamil
Rajeern Mufiad Abbas
Marnud Khaleef
Ala Nizar
Nizar
Joinali Hiyal Khalaf
Au Abduijaicci Hadi
Tariq Kamil Hassan
Tnicks:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
507
505
12061
100665
792
100801
12656
12068
757
12101
Hassan Galab Mohainmad
Hainid Saleh
Lateef Mailer
Hosni Fadhi Solaitnan
Sary Mohamnad Ghuman
Khalaf Ahinad Saleh
Taha Mohammad Somran
Abbas Fadil Hassan
Sanima Mouglmi Hussain
Eid Alimad Malunouci
74
Document 5
KISR Director’s letter of 17/9/1990 requesting inventory lists of equipment,
tools, cars books, circulars and furniture dislocated from KISR to Iraq
(notice the speed of the operation).
Date: 17/9/1990
R No: Ma/23/90
Ministry Undersecretary Office Dr Berry Radeef al-Ani Esq
Subj: Inventory Lists
Greetings
Please inform the Ministry of Industry and Military Industrialisation - Mr
Ahmad al-Doulaiiny office, Ministry undersecretary- that we received the
inventory lists of equipment, tools, cars, circitlars, books and furniture
already received by the Ministry according to the agreement with Mr
Alirnad during his visit to KISR.
With the assurance of our deep respect.
Director General, KISR
17/9/1 990
a copy to:
- Iraq naval forces headquarters
- Agricultural atlairs dept, Presidency
- Sheep and Tissues transplantation Lab
- Basra University Campus
75
Document 6
Ministerial decree of 17/9/1990 to drains KISR of its staff after evacuating it
of its constituents.
Ministry of Higher Education
and Scientific Research
Legislative and
Administrative Dept
Date: Safar 1411
17/9/1990
Ministerial Decree
It is decided to transfer the tecimical and academic cadre appointed at KISR
to Kuwait University to benefit from their majors and according to the
university needs.
Monzir Ibrahirn
Minister of Higher Education and
Scientific Research
A copy to:
-
• The Minister’s Office
• The Undersecretary Office
Kuwait University to take coordinate with KISR
KISR to take the necessary measures
Kuwait University
76
Document 7
Advocating KISR Director on 24/9/1990 to hold its vessels and dislocate
them to Iraq.
In The Name of God Most Merciful, Most Gracious
Date: 24/9/1990
R No: MA136/90
To the Naval Sixth Brigade Headquarters
Subj: Allowance
According to the agreement of Comrade All Hassan Al-Mageed, member of
the Regional Command, to withdraw vessels from the Yacht Club to the
Marine Science Centre, Basra University, Please allow the team entitled to
examine the equipment and tools to transport them to Basra University.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Dr Nagah Abooud Hussein
KISR: Director General
24/9/1990
77
Document 8
A letter to KISR Director General of 24 September, 1990, stating that Iraq’s
Ministry of Industry and Military Industrialisation-iraqi Petrochemicals was
now in charge of KISR
In The Name of God Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Date: 24/9/1990
R No: MAJ4O/90
Iraqi Republic
Ministry of Industry and Military Industrialisation
We have received KISRts buildings in Shuwaikh area from the Ministry of
Industry and Military industrialisation and agreed upon the following:
1. The Osmosis experimental station at Dawha is joined to Power station
there.
2. Join the yards at Salibiya to Basra University (Marine Science
Centre).
Dr Saleh Mageed Haineed
Ministry of Industry and
Military Industrialisation
Petrochemicals
24/9/1990
a copy to:
- Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- For knowledge , with appreciation
78
Document 9
An administrative decree dated 6 October 1990, issued by committee to
supervise KISR Director General to form a stealing KJSR furniture.
Ministry of Higher Education
Administrative Decree (D)
According to the Jurisdiction given to us by decree 13135, we decided
to form a committee to inventory KISR’s flats and villas from the
following names:
-
Mr/ Gabr Kahait Shab Chairman
Mr/ Mohainmad Rasmi al-Laboumni
Mr/ Solaiman Tawfeeq
Mr/ Hallal Katana
Mr/ Adnan Sabab
The abovementioned committee has to finish the inventory within a
week
from today.
6/10/1990
79
Document 10
A letter dated 26 November 1990, from KISR Director General informing
the staff operating KISR’s research station that their salaries were paid.
In The Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
The Iraqi Republic
Ministry of Industry and Military Industrialisation
To the gentlemen working at Salmiyah
Please be at your residence in Kuwait City so that the treasurers can
communicate with you. Please notice that your salaries will shortly be
paid to you.
Dr Saleh Mageed Hanieed
26/11/1990
Ministry of Industry and Military Industrialisati on
STAMP
80
Document 11
This document dated 30/12/1990 and indicates that the Iraqi soldiers
participated in looting and capturing KISR property.
Brother Captain Abdulrazzaq
I hope you are in good health and return safely.
Do not forget to bring with you from Kuwait the booty such as books,
and calculators. Colonel Husam told inc there is a big calculator
which Mr Moua’yad will examine and inform us. Please inform me to
send one of the engineers in case you need him and also send us the
material we need with major Moufid, Thank you.
Your brother
Dr Issain
30/12/1990
81
Document 12
Director’s administrative decree of 8/1/1991 revealing a plan to strip KISR’s
flats and accommodations eleven hours before the war of liberating Kuwait
started.
Ministry of Industry and Military Industrialisalion
Top Secret
Administrative Decree
Forming a Committee
Form a committee from the following names to carry out the orders issued
by the Ministry under-secretary on 7/1/1991 to capture the furniture of all
the flats affiliated to KISR which were used for less than 5 years. The
committee lists the materials through an inventory and submits them to the
Ministry under-secretary. The Committee starts its inventory, according to
the forms available, on Wednesday 9/1/1991 and finishes its mission by
12/1/1991.Rent trucks, workers, and rely on cadres at KISR to carry out the
inventory.
Committee members:
1. Lieutenant Saleh Hasson Albawy, KISR Security Officer: Supervisor
2. Mr Khaled Mohaminad Said
Administration Representative
3. Mr Hamed Zarzoor Shamran
Transport Representative
4. Dr Nagah Abboud
Dr Saleh Mageed Hameed
Ministry of Industry and
Military Industrialisation
A copy to:
-
Ministry under-secretary office for information and according to
your orders abovementioned,
Head of the Administrative Authority, for information with
appreciation,
Administrative Authority / Stores
The Committee members/ to carry out orders as soon as possible
82
The Aggression in Pictures
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
Chapter Four
A Barbaric Attitude Towards Scientific Research
Dismantling of an Arab Scientific Edifice
In September 1985, Kuwait and Iraq attended the second meeting of the
Arabian Gulf Scientific Research Officials, which was hosted by the
University of Petroleum and Metals in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Kuwait and
Iraq attended in their capacities as members of the Arabian Gulf Education
Bureau, which organized the meeting. The recommendations adopted at the
meeting stressed:
The need to set up a strategy for scientific
research in the Gulf States, and to respect
each state’s applications, intellectual
ownership, and freedom to line up the scientific
research priorities that respond to
the needs of its national development.
Iraqi researchers who had attended the meeting were among the Iraqi
troops that later invaded Kuwait and took over KISR. They supervised the
dismantling of KISR’s scientific infrastructure, the usurpation of the rights
of those who worked in Kuwait, and the crippling of a scientific edifice that
had always worked in cooperation with Iraq, as well as with other Arab
countries.
That meeting was not the only such event at the Gulf and Arab states
level in which KISR participated together with Iraqi and other Arab
scientific institutions. Indeed, there had been many such meetings at which
Kuwait met with its sister Arab states, and at which KISR was given credit
for its generous contributions and open cooperation with Arab and other
international research centers. KISR’ s contributions included the following:
97
Performance of Joint Projects:
KISR participated in the execution of a number of joint GCC research
projects. Table 2 lists several such projects.
Table 2
KISR’s Participation in Joint GCC Research
Project
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Title of Joint
Field
Project
fish and shrimp culture for
mariculture and
commercialization
purfish resources
poses
mariculture and
desertilication study
fish resources
study of plant species re- mariculture and
sistant to salinity and heat fish resources
drip irrigation study
mariculture
production of single cell
oil and gas
protein from petroleum
study on extraction of
asphalt from heavy crude oil and gas
oil
treatment of corrosion in chemical engioil tanks
neering
use of solar energy for
energy
heating and cooling
use of solar energy in
energy
greenhouse agriculture
study on water sources in
oceanography
the Arabian Gulf
study on Arabian Gulf
water pollution and its environment
causes
98
Participants
Kuwait and Iraq
Kuwait, Iraq and
Saudi Arabia
All Gulf States
All Gulf States
Kuwait, Iraq and
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait, Iraq and
Saudi Arabia
All Gulf States
Kuwait
and
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait, Iraq and
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait, Iraq and
Saudi Arabia
All Gulf States
Scientific Participation of the State of Kuwait
KISR participated in all the events that brought together scientific
research institutions on Arab, regional and international levels in the years
that preceded the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Its participation had been very
instrumental in advancing scientific research, and setting up strategies for
the region. Examples of the events in which KISR participated are as
follows:
On The GCC Level:
- The First Meeting of the Arab Gulf States’ Scientific Research
Officials, Baghdad, Iraq, May 15-18, 1982.
- The Second Meeting of the Arab Gulf States’ Scientific Research
Officials, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, September 23-25, 1985.
- The International Symposium on the Development of Agriculture
in Oman, and Muscat, Oman, October 14-19, 1989.
- The Symposium on the Economic Exploitation of Wastes, Jeddah,
Saudi Arabia, November 24-27, 1989.
- The Second Conference on Rangeland Management in the GCC,
Kuwait, March 3-6, 1990.
On a Pan-Arab Level:
- The Symposium on the Effects of Advanced Technology in Arab
Communities, Doha, Qatar, November 21-24, 1988.
- The Second Arab Conference on the Development of Poultry
Meat, Tunis, Tunisia, February 7-10, 1989.
- The First Arab Conference on the Horizons of Modern
Technologies in the Arab World, Amman, Jordan, March 27-3 0,
1989.
- The Second Arab Conference on Fish, Baghdad, Iraq, March, 1214, 1990.
On an International Level:
- The English International Conference on Biotechnology, Paris,
France, July 7-22, 1988.
99
- The Fourteenth International Conference on Water Pollution,
Brighton, England, July 17-22, 1988.
- The Eighth International Conference on Oil Microbiology, Hong
Kong, August 1-15, 1988.
- The Eighth International Conference on Genetic Engineering,
Canada, August 20-27, 1988.
- The Scientific Symposium on the Uses of the Soil’s Organic and
Nitrogen Residue, Denmark, September 19-22, 1988.
- The International Symposium on Redemption of Desert Lands
Using Soil Improvers, Egypt, October 11-13, 1988.
- The Third International Conference on Rangelands, India,
November6-11, 1988.
- The International Conference on Mariculture, Los Angeles, USA,
February 12-18, 1988.
- A Conference on the Use of Computers in Assessing Plant Growth
and Its Relation with Fertilizers, USA, May 15-26,1989.
- The Tenth Conference of the World Nutrition and Veterinary
Health Society, Sweden, July 3-7, 1989.
- The Fourteenth International Conference on Nutrition, Korea,
August 20-25, 1989.
- The 62’’ Annual Conference on Water Pollution, USA, October
13-21, 1989.
- The UNESCO General Conference, 25th Session, Paris, France,
October 30-November 12, 1989.
- The Conference on Management of Asian Coastal Fisheries,
Manila, the Philippines, March 4-7, 1990.
- The 20th International Conference on Environmental Analytical
Chemistry, Paris, France, April 17-2 1, 1990.
- The Seventh International Conference on Plant Cell and Tissue
Culture, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, June 23-3 0, 1990.
- The International Symposium on the Relation of Fodder with
Animal Production, Canada, June 25-29, 1990.
- The International Conference on Fish Diseases, Edinburgh,
Scotland, June 25-30, 1990.
100
KISR also made many contributions to various scientific activities in
1990. But all its activities came to a standstill at the time of the invasion.
The scientific loss incurred by the cessation of KISR’s contributions to
scientific development and the exchange of information was immeasurable.
KISR had had close cooperative ties with Iraq’s scientific establishments.
This is evidenced by the many projects jointly executed by the two countries
and the last was a visit made by three researchers from KISR’ s FRD to the
University of Al-Basra to follow up a programme of joint cooperation
between the two institutions and were enjoyed by researchers from both
countries.
Hosting of Scientific Events:
KISR’s role was not confined to representing Kuwait in scientific
conferences and symposia. KISR also organized and hosted a number of
scientific events that boosted its image among scientific centers in the region
and around the world such as:
- A Conference on the Management of Water Resources and Related
Technologies, October 5-7, 1978.
- A Seminar on the Use of Industrial Proprietorship in Economic and
Technological Development, July 18-19, 1989.
- A Symposium on the Use of Official Information in Scientific
Research and Decision-Making, January 29-31, 1990.
Exchange of Scientific and Technological Information:
Based on its conviction that the exchange of information is an important
tool in the dissemination of research results between researchers and
research centers, KISR has taken great care not only to document scientific
and technological information, but also to exchange it with concerned
institutions in Arab and non-Arab countries. This attention was embodied in
the establishment of NSTIC as one of its key facilities, and which laid the
foundation for strong relations
101
with Arab and international scientific institutions. The following are
examples of the scientific institutions with which KISR enjoyed and
continued to enjoy good relations.
International Organization:
- The International Federation for Information and Documentation
Centers, the Hague, the Netherlands.
- The International Federation for Library Societies, the Hague, the
Netherlands.
- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,
Rome, Italy.
- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Information Programme, Paris, France.
- The International Organization for the Protection of Intellectual
Property, Geneva, Switzerland.
- The Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine
Environment (ROPME), Kuwait.
Islamic and Arab Organizations:
- The Islamic Organization for Education, Science and Culture, in
Rabat, Morocco.
- The Arab Organization for Education, Science, and Culture, Tunis,
Tunisia.
- The Documentation and Information Center of the Arab League,
Cairo, Egypt.
Libraries and National Information Centers:
- The Library of Congress, Washington DC, USA.
- The British Library, London, UK.
- The King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology, Ryadh,
Saudi Arabia.
102
Agreements for Scientific Cooperation:
Before the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, KISR had successfully established
its scientific position on both pan-Arab and international levels by
concluding a number of agreements for scientific cooperation with members
of the GCC, the Arab League and the United Nations. Similarly, KISR had
concluded a number of agreements with scientific institutions and centers in
various countries of the world, mainly in Japan, the USA, Germany, the
Netherlands, France and Egypt.
Scientific Publications:
KISR contributed to scientific publications on Arab and international
levels by publishing material in Arabic and in English.
Among these publications were the following:
- Scientific research reports
- Conference and symposia papers
- Weekly newsletters
Based on KISR’s involvement in scientific research on so many levels,
KISR had always stood as a well-established, Arab scientific edifice. The
losses incurred as a result of the destruction and plunder of its property by
Iraq’s occupying troops, the loss of its scientific research archives, the flight
of its researchers and the cessation of scientific research activity is
immeasurable. Professors at the University of Cairo in Egypt issued a
statement denouncing the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, in which they said:
The Iraqi aggression on Kuwait University
and the Kuwait Institute for Scientific
Research cannot be measured since the
stoppage of academic life and cessation of
research work are losses that cannot be
measured economically.
103
Losses Caused by the Cessation of Operations
Perhaps the worst and most serious loss resulting from the Iraqi
aggression against KISR is that related to research and development. Before
the Iraqi invasion, KISR performed an average of 70 research studies yearly.
The studies covered various vital fields, such as agriculture, food, water, the
environment,
oil,
petrochemical
industries,
engineering
and
technoeconomics. Some of the research studies were carried out within the
framewoek of contractual projects, the budget for which amounted to 57%
of the gross annual budget approved for KISR projects.
Table 3 displays the number of projects performed and related budgets
for the six years preceding the Iraqi aggression on Kuwait, namely, from
fiscal year 1983-84 through fiscal year 1988-89. Table 4 presents KISR total
number of projects from the years 1979-80 to 1988-89 and categories them
as in-house or contractual projects.
Table 3
KISR Projects Executed over the Period
from 1983-84 through 1988-89
Fiscal Year
No. of
Projects
Budget (KD)
1983-84
74
6,684,678
1984-85
44
7,841,964
1985-86
57
7,571,581
1986-87
58
8,123,608
1978-88
61
9,577,974
1988-89
45
10,000,725
104
Table 4
KISR Projects from 1979-80 to 1989-89
No. of
Contractual
Projects
Toal No.
Of Projcts
Fiscal Year
No. of
In-house
Projects
1979-80
23
15
38
1980-81
35
17
52
1981-82
12
65
77
1982-83
22
38
60
1983-84
28
46
74
1984-85
20
24
44
1985-86
22
35
57
1986-87
20
38
58
1987-88
32
29
61
1988-89
30
15
45
KISR and many other scientific, academic and educational
establishments were forced to halt their activities after the Iraqi regime had
wreaked havoc on them, plundered their property, and turned them into
military barracks. This interruption in negatively affected various vital
spheres of research activities at KISR and other scientific centers such as:
-
Food and agriculture
Health and the environment
Oil and energy
Industrial production
Building and construction
Technoeconomics
105
The number of projects that were in progress at the time of the Iraqi
invasion of Kuwait was 81, with a total cost of KD 12,606, 174 of those
projects, 61 were contractual which their total cost was KD 10,772,5 14, i.e.
85.5% of the total budget. The results of the research that was in progress at
that time were all lost, and with them, the hard work of many researchers.
Table 5 displays the projects that were in progress at the time of the Iraqi
invasion of Kuwait.
Table 5
Research in Progress, August 1, 1990
Total No of
Projects
Programme
Percentage
24
23.8 %
4
4.00 %
Petroleum
16
15.8 %
Environmental Sciences
28
27.7 %
Engineering
20
19.8 %
Techno-Economic
9
8.9 %
101
100%
Research Programme
Food & Biological
Resources
Water Resources
Total
Scientific Relations:
Prior to the invasion and occupation, KTSR had wellestablished
relations with many Arab and international scientific organizations,
institutions and centers, which enabled it to keep track of the progress in
science and technology, and learn of their latest applications in different
economic sectors.
106
Development of KISR’s Researchers:
Since its establishment, KISR had taken great care to develop the skills
of its through courses held locally and abroad to boost their productivity.
However this effort was interrupted by the invasion, and Kuwait was absent
from many scientific events during the occupation and for many months
after the liberation.
Loss of Scientific and Technological Databases:
KISR had successfully built a number of scientific and technological
databases which constituted its living memory.All of its research projects
and programmes were stored in these databases. They covered a variety of
research fields of interest to KISR. Their cumulative wealth of information
was immeasurably valuable. The following is a list of the databases
available at KISR before August 1990 (i.e. before the Iraqi invasion):
-
Underground water database.
Weather forecasting database.
Energy economics database.
Population and labour database.
Transportation database.
Oceanographic database.
Shrimp database.
Fish survey database.
Agricultural and industrial database.
Crude oil database.
Wild life database.
Land survey database.
Agriculture and animal resources database.
The Impact of the Iraqi Aggression on the National Development:
KISR plays a pivotal role in furthering national development
through research and development (R&D) activities aimed at boosting
107
productivity in the nation’s industrial and agricultural sectors, by
contributing to the solving of production problems facing national
establishments and by utilizing new technology. The enormity of KISR’s
contribution to national development is best measured by the number of
contractual projects it performs. In 1988/89, the value of contractual projects
carried out by KISR was as follows:
- KD 1,041,886 the cost of completed contractual projects.
- KD 10,772,415 the cost of contractual projects in progress.
Naturally, the number and value of projects increased during the year of
the invasion, i.e., 1989/90. Unfortunately, all the information prepared and
stored on the computer for inclusion in the final report for 1989/90 was lost.
Problems Resulting from the Dislocatoin:
Pollution of the Marine Environment:
Kuwait’s regional waters sustained the worst damage ever at the hands
of the Iraqi troops, who deliberately drained five huge oil tankers loaded
with heavy crude oil anchored at Al-Ahmadi terminal, and opened the valves
of oil-export pipes on the industrial island opposite the terminal. Oil flowed
nonstop from the tankers and valves for more than ten days, creating a huge
oil spill that travelled thousands of kilometers in the Gulf’s waters.
Within the framework of its Environmental Sciences Programme, KISR
had been playing a remarkable role, depending on natural resources. The
environmental pollution caused by the invasion and occupation included the
loss of soil productivity. In addition water and air pollution meant the loss of
factors essential to economic development. Had there not been an invasion,
and had research activities continued in the field of the environment and its
resources, the national development rate would have remained normal.
Similarly, had there not been an aggression on KISR, research activities
would
108
have helped alleviate environmental deterioration, specially in fields related
to economic development.
Kuwait’s marine environment sustained considerable damage at the
hands of the Iraqi soldiers. They dug ditches along the coastline, and spilled
tens of thousands of tons of crude oil into the Gulf. This had a destructive
impact on the desalination plants in Kuwait and in the Gulf region. The oilpolluted water remained unfit for desalination for a long time after
liberation.
Cessation of Fishing Activities:
The marine pollution also affected fishing beds and related industries.
The Iraqis looted the fifteen fully equipped vessels of the Kuwait Fisheries
Company. All fishing activities were disrupted for a long time for fear of the
mines that were abundantly scattered in the Gulf Moreover, the fishing
industry facilities sustained heavy damage at the hands of the Iraqis. KISR
lost its Marine Research Station, equipment and vessels. Its mariculture
halted, and so were its fish production activities, especially the fish live-bait
industry. This had a negative impact on national development in the field of
food and other related sectors. PPMD was seeking to set up a solid basis for
an R&D programme that would serve local and rgional industries. The
foremost areas of priority were seawater corrosion, and the oil and
petrochemical industries. Thus, all aspects of air corrosion in Kuwait were
included. Heavy emphasis was laid on the corrosion phenomenon, due to the
high cost of damage sustained by public facilities as a result of corrosion by
air pollutants.
Corrosion escalated during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, particularly
after the torching of Kuwait’s oil fields. KISR could fulfil its national
responsibility in combating pollution and protecting public property from
corrosion which badly affected economic development, as expected.
Corrosion, thus, caused immense damage, which paralyzed many production
facilities.
109
Sand Encroaching Problem:
Kuwait has always been plagued by sand encroaching problems in many
areas, such as the northwestern area called AlHoweimiliya and the
northeastern area called Umm Al-Aish. Available data indicate that the
government of Kuwait has spent hundreds of thousands of Kuwaiti dinars
every year to stop that phenomenon. This expenditure has been inevitable
due to the presence of many strategic locations and development projects in
areas with sand encroaching problems, such as:
-
Mi Salem and Ahmed Al-Jaber air fields.
Oil fields in Burgan, Manageish and Wafra.
The broadcasting stations in Wafra and Kabd.
Al-Abdally water fields.
Al-Wafra agricultural area.
A number of military sites along the Salmi road.
Some parts of Kuwait’s highways.
These sites were left unprotected against the sand encroaching
phenomenon during the Iraqi occupation. Economic sources reveal that the
government of Kuwait had to pay large sums of money after liberation to
remove the sand which had been deposited around water and oil fields,
military bases and highways. The problem of sand accumulation also led to
the disruption of development projects that were going on in those areas.
Because KISR was not functioning after the invasion, it could not contribute
to overcoming this problem, or alleviating its adverse impact on economic
development during the occupation.
Scientific Potentials: An Invaluable Loss:
The world community has long been trying to protect scientific
research, and to classify research as a profession practiced by prominent
men of science. At its eighteenth session on Novermber 20, 1936,
UNESCO’s general conference endorsed a number of recommendations
protecting scientific researchers, which mainly stressed the need to provide
researchers with opportunities and facilities that boost their
110
professional careers. Under Clause 14 of these recommendations, it is
stressed that Governments in peace or war times should guarantee the
following rights for working in the scientific research field:
- Freedom of thought to search for scientific facts and their
interpretation,
- Continue the research they participate,
- Contribute to boosting science and development in their countries.
- Protect intellectual proprietorship of researchers’ rights.
- Freedom of commitment towards research institutions and
organizations.
These recommendation were supported by a number of international
protocols, such as the International Proclamation on Human Rights issued by
the UN General Assembly on December 10 1948, and the recommendations
from the fifth session of the UN Conference in 1978 on the protection of
human resources operating in scientific research, the brain drain and the
transfer of technology.
Along these lines, KISR has always allocated the greatest attention to
the human element as an essential component of scientific research. It has
exerted continuing effort to qualify a generation of Kuwait researchers in
various scientific fields, and has continued to develop their skills and
abilities so that they might better contribute to all of KISR’s activities and
research programmes.
Dr. Venice Jawdah, Egyptian
Minister of Scientific Research, who
was part of KISR’s scientific work
team in one of the PPMD
laboratories prior to the invasion.
111
KISR’s tools for building a team of skilled Kuwaiti researchers have
included the following:
Advanced, Specialized Training Programmes:
In the year before the invasion of Kuwait, KISR carried out a number of
advanced, specialized training programmes to develop human resources to
meet KISR’s needs as specified in its strategic plans. These training
programmes included the following:
- 86 training courses: 39 scientific, 28 computer, and 19
administrative.
- 11 training courses in areas meeting national development
requirements.
- Sending 64 Kuwaiti trainees abroad for specialized training.
- 49 on-the-job specialized training programmes for staff in the
various research divisions.
Table 6 shows the number of in-house training course carried
out at KISR during 1988/89.
Study Programmes Leading to Scientific Degrees:
KJSR has sent many of its staff abroad on scholarships to obtain degrees
in the fields needed. A special Scholarships Committee was formed to study
applications for scholarships, which are invited twice every year, in the fall
and in the spring. Under this programme in 1988/89, KJSR sent four of its
staff members abroad on scholarships to obtain the degree of doctor of
philosophy, and six others to obtain the degree of master of science in fields
pertaining to a wide range of activities.
Besides this, KISR had many highly qualified and skilled personnel,
both Arab and non-Arab, to plan, execute and develop scientific research
projects. The number of experts, advisors and research specialists who were
working at KISR before the invasion was 177, of which 27.3% were
Kuwaiti. Table 7 displays the total number of KISR staff by employment
category.
112
Table 6
Number of Specialized In-House Training Course
1988/89
Administrative
39
28
19
86
Training Hours
1040
408
427
1875
No. of Trainees
220
381
178
779
422
13
83
518
65 %
3%
32 %
100 %
Trainees from Outside
KISR
Percentage of Trainees
from Outside KISR
113
Total
Computer
No. of Courses
Description
Scientific
Technological
Training Areas
Table 7
Supervisors
Ratio of
Temporary to
Total Staff
27
Proportion of
Kuwaiti (%)
Researchers & Research
Specialists
Kuwaiti Staff
Manager
Total
Temporary
Staff
Category
Kuwaiti Staff by Employment Category
54
40
74.1%
-
150
41
27.3 %
15.3 %
37
20
54.1 %
-
Professionals
52
334
225
67.4 %
13.5 %
Technicians
42
164
36
22.1%
20.4%
Adminis- trators
67
162
18
11.1%
29.3%
Sub-jobs
94
104
4
4%
47.5 %
Total
282
1005
384
38.2%
21.9%
NB: Data of June 1990 were not available being lost among the Institute belongings
114
Reports by International Organizations on the Iraqi Aggression on
Kuwait’s Scientific Establishments
The repercussions of the Iraqi aggression on Kuwait have been a subject
of interest to many international organizations. Many reports have been
generated on the damage inflicted on Kuwait’s various urban, economic,
educational and scientific facilities. Some of these reports were prepared by
delegations visiting Kuwait:
Penion’s Report (March 1991):
Prepared by J. Penion, a member of the UN Delegation for Estimating
the damage inflicted on education, scientific, research and communications
facilities in Kuwait as a Result of the Iraqi Aggression., the report gave a full
description of the damage. It says: “KISR is one among two or three of the
most significant scientific establishments in the Middle East. During the
Iraqi occupation it came under shelling from Iraqi tanks, which left its main
building entrance destroyed and set fire to an area of 2000 square meters.
The damage estimated US $ 66 million. The main building and related
research laboratories such as the Mariculture Research Laboratory, the
research vessel Bahith, the solar energy center, and the agricultural research
center, all of which were expensively equipped, were plundered. The total
damage estimated by KISR’s annual report was at US $ 63 million”.
The report continues: “... the greatest loss of all sustained by KISR was
its elite group of researchers, who were rendered jobless by the Iraqi
aggression on KISR. Moreover, KISR’s National Scientific and Technical
Information Center (NSTIC) lost its information archives and databases,
which were built over a period exceeding 20 years, and will take a few years
to rebuild”.
115
Professor Apadier Tiam’s Report:
This report was prepared at a request by UNESCO’s Executive Council
at Session 135. The decision (No. JJX/4-8) called on the Director General to
send a committee to Kuwait to dtermine the magnitude of damage inflicted
on its educational, scientific and cultural institutions, and to decide how
much help was needed from UNESCO. UNESCO’s Director General chose
Senegal’s former Education Minister and Executive Council member,
Apadier Tiam, as its representative and head of the damage-assessing
committee. The committee visited Kuwait in April 1991, and submitted a
report about the damage sustained by KISR.
The report stressed the scientific importance of KISR, which employed
100 researchers in 1990, two-thirds of whom were Kuwaiti. The average
number of projects carried out in the years preceeding the invasion ranged
annually between 200 to 350.
The report also said that the Iraqi occupation forces sent an Iraqi
military expert to KISR, who had previously been invited often to KISR, and
therefore, possessed valuable knowledge about the facilities and equipment
available at KISR. This Iraqi military expert brought along special groups of
technicians who dismantled KISR’s equipment and machines and dislocated
them to Iraq. They also plundered KISR’s scientific research archives and
moved its IBM 3090 mainframe computer, which had cost KD 200 million
or equivalent to US $ 700 million, to Iraq.
The Iraqi occupation also caused some of KTSR’s research staff to flee
the country, while others were killed for refusing to cooperate with the
occupation troops. The colossal environmental damage sustained by Kuwait
as a result of the deliberate spilling of hundreds of thousands of tons of
crude oil and the igniting of hundreds of oil wells will remain an
unforgivable crime committed against environment.
116
Chapter Five
Life Returns to Normal
Reconstruction After Liberation
A lot of time, effort and money were required to rehabilitate KISR, and
get it working again. KISR resumed operation on April 20, 1991, and
developed a working plan for its scientific research divisions. The plan
consisted of the following five stages:
Stage One: Preparation for Reconstruction:
This stage lasted four months, during which the following jobs were
accomplished:
Determination and Documentation of the Amount of Damage and the
Repair Needed:
KJSR’s management carried out the following work, in cooperation
with the relevant authorities:
- Performing a preliminary examination of KISR’s buildings to
determine the amount of damage sustained.
- Documenting the amount of damage sustained by KISR, through
written and photographic records.
- Disposing of military ordnance, mines and ammunition.
- Collecting all documents present, and preparing an inventory of
available equipment and furniture.
- Cleaning and re-equipping buildings that had sustained only minor
damage.
- Allocating offices for the various divisions.
- Furnishing and equipping the most important laboratories.
117
Rebuilding of Necessary Manpower:
All Kuwaiti workers were called in, and a number of technicians were
locally hired. Expatriate advisors, researchers and technicians were called in
as needed.
Full-Scale Assessment of Damage and Losses Sustained by KISR:
Before reconstruction could be initiated, it was necessary to
carry out full assessment of the damage and losses sustained by KISR
as a result of the Iraqi invasion. The following steps were taken:
- A consultant was hired to assess the material and physical damage.
- All needed reconstruction documents, conditions and
specifications were prepared.
- A full-scale assessment of the damage and losses was carried out.
Stage Two: Planning and Organizing Prior to Operation:
This stage also took four months during which the following
jobs were accomplished:
- Re-operation and re-equipage of scientific and research divisions,
and provision of needed facilities and furniture according to order
of priority.
- Determination of the number of vacancies and measures to fulfil
them.
- Development of a short-term plan to meet the research, and future
needs of the various governmental sectors.
- Search for contributions and assistance from foreign Arab and nonArab agencies to re-equip KISR’s laboratories and information
center.
- Review of all project contracts signed with governmental and nongovernmental parties.
118
Stage Three: Repair and Renovation of KISR’s Buildings and Facilities:
This stage took nearly ten months, during which KISR’ s main building
was repaired and renovated along with all related buildings. The repairs
included areas such as power, water, air-conditioning and telephone
gridlines.
Inauguration of the Mariculture and Fisheries Facility in Saimiya
Stage Four: Furnishing and Equipment:
This stage lasted for ten months, during which the following were
equipped:
- All scientific laboratories and research divisions,
- All Technical and electronic workshops, as well as the research
vessels unit,
119
Inauguration of the Kifan Underground Water Pumping Station
- NSTIC,
- The Computer center.
Stage Five: Detailed Research Strategy:
This stage lasted for five months, during which a detailed research
strategy was developed. This strategy was based on the third five-year plan
(1990-1995), which had been approved by KISR’s Board of Trustees before
the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait. Efforts were made to return KISR to its preinvasion state. Manpower resources were developed, and Kuwaiti specialists
became available in various research fields.
A Strategic Transitional Research Programme was developed and put
into effect for the period from July 1992 to June 1995. This
programme sought to achieve the following:
120
A post-liberation view of the chemical treatment unit at the Doha Reverse Osmosis
Desalination Station
A post-liberation view of the chemical laboratory at the Doha Reverse Osmosis
Desalination Station
121
A post-liberation view of NSTIC
- Development of major important research projects, based on
available resources and possibilities.
- Development and encouragement of Kuwaiti Staff.
- Completion of state-level research project contracts signed before
the invasion.
- Establishment of communication channels between KISR’ s
research divisions and the relevant governmental agencies.
- Transfer of modern technology to various government sectors.
- Conduction of experiments and analyses in well-established
international laboratories, till KISR’ s laboratories being prepared.
- Enhancement of KISR’s potential and optimization performance
prior to resumption of its activities.
122
- Utilization of all means available to develop KISR’ s manpower
resources.
- Boosting cooperation between KISR’s research and administrative
divisions.
Inside and Outside Partners in Reconstruction
KISR is an established key player in the development of the
following vital fields:
-
Food resources
Water resources
Petroleum and petrochemicals
Environmental resources
Energy, building and engineering systems
Technoeconomics
Information systems and libraries
Upon liberation, KISR signed 24 project contracts with external clients,
and embarked on the execution of 20 other in-house contracts, which gained
material support from various governmental institutions.
123
A post-Liberation view of the Lake Bottoms Projects
124
Inside Reconstruction Partners:
KISR has received a lot of support from government establishments for
the carrying out of research projects. Close, cooperative ties have developed
between KISR and other governmental establishments, such as the
following:
The Public Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries Resources
(PAAFR):
A contract was signed with KISR in February 1993, for the resumption
of work on soil surveying and categorization. The work would take 50
months to complete. It involved a full-scale survey of Kuwait’s soil,
including that of the islands. The total area of the project was 1.8 hectares. It
was agreed that the project would begin in June 1993, with full funding from
the Public Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries Resources (PAAFR).
Two other agreements were signed between KISR and PAAFR for the
development of biopesticides, and determine the effects of pesticides on
locally grown vegetables. The first project aimed at identifying suitable
biopesticides for local use to control three strains of crop pests. Accordingly,
KISR has been examining the bacteria that produces these biopesticides in
order to determine their usefulness in pest control, to assess their
performance under field conditions, and to train Kuwaitis in related modern
technology. The second project involved a study of certain types of
pesticides used in Kuwait. It also involved laboratory studies aimed at
determining the impact of pesticides on vegetables, the quality of pesticides
used and factors affecting their performance.
KISR also signed a contract to restart a project to develop short-and
long-term plans (1995-20 15) to afforest Kuwait and enhance its
environmental assets. The project aimed at developing a national
afforestation plan that will enhance Kuwait’s environmental assets and turn
Kuwait into a green oasis.
125
Work on the agricultural sector development study (animal and plant
production) has been resumed. KISR had started this project before the
invasion; work lasted for one year. PAAFR has requested that KISR resume
work on this project, which aims at developing agriculture in Kuwait, taking
into consideration the post-liberation situation.
Shuaiba Area Authority:
The Shuaiba Area Authority and KISR signed a contract on
April 7, 1993, for three research projects:
- An initial study of the toxicity of industrial pollutants in marine
environment using the Microtox biotechnology.
- The design of an air pollution index based on air quality standards.
- A study of the impact of the spread of pollutants on soil and in
baseline sediments.
Kuwait National Petroleum Company:
A contract was signed between the Kuwait National Petroleum
Company and KISR to develop a plan for introducing an advanced control
system to the Ahmadi refinery. The project’s objective was to lay down the
groundwork for introducing advanced control systems in the remaining
refineries. The implementation of this plan will save KD 3.5 million per
annum.
Ministiy of Communications:
Before the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, KISR had agreed with the Ministry
of Communication to reorganize the communications sector through study
by TED. After liberation, the Ministry of Communications again sought
KISR’s assistance in reorganization the communications sector in light of
the recent changes and advances in communications technology.
126
Public Authority for Compensation (FAQ):
PAC asked KISR to conduct a study estimating the value of government
and private properties that were plundered or deliberately destroyed by the
Iraqi invaders during military clashes that preceded the war for liberation.
The study was in line with UN Resolution 686 on compensating Kuwait for
the damage and losses sustained as a result of the Iraqi aggression.
Kuwait Municipality:
A contract was signed between Kuwait Municipality and KISR for a
project involving the development of an approach to evaluate tenders
submitted by private companies. The project aimed at helping decision
makers at the Kuwait Municipality assess the tenders submitted for projects.
The project lasted for six months.
Kuwait University:
An agreement was signed between Kuwait University and
KISR for the establishment of joint committees to develop research
plans that contribute to Kuwait’s national development.
Outside Reconstruction Partners:
Before the invasion, KISR had many ties with research centers around
the world. After the liberation, KISR resumed its relations with many
centers, which were very helpful with the reconstruction of its facilities.
Among those centers are the following:
Shemizo:
Shemizo is a Japanese establishment with which KISR signed an
agreement in August 1993. According to the agreement, Shemizo was to
find and assist in carrying out a research programme aimed at rehabilitating
the environment in oil-polluted areas. The programme took three years to
complete. It involved a number of studies concerned with rehabilitating oilpolluted soil using modern technology.
127
The Japanese Oil Center:
An agreement was signed between this center and KISR under
which both parties were to undertake a research project for the treatment of
oil lakes using the latest Japanese biotechnology.
The Japanese National Resources and Environment Institute:
An agreement was signed with this institute to carry out an oilpollutant study along the Kuwaiti coastline.
American Universities:
KISR signed four agreements for scientific and technological
cooperation with:
-
Colorado University
Texas University
Arizona University
National American Research Council
Other:
Additional
following:
-
agreements
were
signed
between
Ministry of Research and Technology, Germany.
Walfut Hydraulics Laboratory, The Netherlands.
Ministry of Scientific Research, Egypt.
Hohoneim, Germany.
128
KJSR
and
the
New Spheres for Research and Development:
After the liberation of Kuwait in February 1991 and the return of
researchers to work, KISR developed a Transitional Strategic Pr - gramme
(1992-1995), which meant to enable KISR to effectively contribute to the
national reconstruction.
Development of Oil Industiy:
KISR played a great role in developing oil industry before the Iraqi
invasion of Kuwait. This role continued after the liberation, and
considerably developed to include the oil production and refining industries,
and related petrochemical and conversion industries. KJSR also focussed on
high-quality oil products.
Through its PPMD, KISR obtained a patent for a technique of
manufacturing alumina, catalysts and other materials important for the oil
industry. The method involves the manufacturing of high-strength alumina
layers of a specific porosity through mixing alumina powder with water. The
resulting mass is then pounded into a dough to which a sulfonate resin
solution is added. The resulting mass is treated by hear in a special
autoclave.
KISR also organized a symposium entitled “Recent Technological and
Research Development in Oil Production”, in cooperation with the Kuwait
National Petroleum Company. Discussions at the symposium compared
Kuwait’s expertise in the field with Romanian expertise.
KJSR also organized the Second International Conference on the use of
Catalysis in the Petroleum and Petrochemical Industries during the period
April 22-26, 1995. The conference dealt with a number of issues vital to the
field.
Food Processing, Distribution and Storage in Kuwait:
Since liberation, KISR has paid increasing attention to the vital
field of food processing. A comprehensive field study was commis
129
sioned covering all local food-processing industries, and the freezers used
for food storage by food manufactures and cooperative societies. KISR’ s
Biotechnology Department continues to undertake research aimed at
developing existing food-processing technologies, distribution systems and
storage areas. Kuwait imports more than 90% of its food requirements.
Hydraulic Mathematical Models:
KISR developed a hydraulic mathematical model, which was the first of
its kind in Kuwait. The model is used to simulate underground water
dynamics based on different variable. Through the use of this model, it is
possible to simulate the dynamics of and related changes in underground
water.
KISR has also conducted a lot of research in the field of seawater
desalination using reverse osmosis technology. This technology brings the
desalination cost down 30-50% compared to the use of the multistage flash
desalination technology used in many Arab States. Another study is
currently underway to determine the best technique to reduce underground
water levels.
Sand Encroaching Phenomenon:
Despite the immensity of the losses sustained by vital civil and military
installations in Kuwait as a result of the sand encroaching phenomenon, only
transient solutions have so far been used to counter this problem. However,
KISR has carried out a study seeking to resolve this problem by building
green belts and planting trees in targeted areas to be used as sand break. The
study recommended the development of a long-term programme for
monitoring the rate and dynamics of sand encroaching and accumulation in
various sites in the Wafra area, where sand deposit rates are higher due to
the following:
- The area’s location in relatively low terrain at the far southeast on
the main sand track in Kuwait,
- The deterioration of vegetation in Kuwait and the lack of soil
cohesion in the northwest, and
- The failure of current methods to stop sand encroaching
130
A post-liberation view of part of the Department of
Hydraulics and Coastal Engineering’s well-drilling operation
131
general post-liberation view of the Doha Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant
New Horizons for scientific cooperation:
KISR’ s strong relations with other scientific and research centers are
based on their united objectives. This has helped KISR to play
a great role in supporting development projects.
Technology Transfer and Its Impact on the National Economy:
After liberation, KISR carried out the following projects:
- A detailed survey of the potentials of unified technological
possibilities for the GCC states.
- A unified technological strategy for the GCC states.
KISR and the King AbdulAziz Society for Science and Technology
have played major roles in both projects, under the umbrella of the GCC
Secretariat. KISR’s study of the economic impact of technology transfer on
the GCC countries is seen as a step towards defin
132
ing the type of technologies commonly used by these countries, and an
attempt to delineate the economic structures of these countries and identify
the methods involved in such transfer. The results of this study are expected
to define the technologies used in the GCC’ s industrial sector and determine
the suitability of these technologies for the various countries’ economics and
development plants. In addition, the results of this study are expected to
reveal the true gap existing between the nature of the technologies used and
the economic development plans underway in the GCC countries.
Support and Promotion of the Economic Sector:
KISR’s research activities before the Iraq invasion dealt with ways of
developing industrial production in Kuwait. However, there has been a great
change in the type of research undertaken by KISR since the liberation.
Research now has a regional rather than a local scope, and seeks to support,
encourage and protect the economic sector. One of the studies conducted
under KISR’s supervision, was “The Effects of Incentives Available to the
Industrial Sectors in the GCC States”. It showed that the GCC states tend to
rely on customs protection as a means of supporting the industrial sector.
The study recommended the establishment of a Gulf Development Fund to
finance and motivate the industrial sector. The study drew a comparison
between the GCC states and the European Economic Community (EEC)
states, and showed that the incentives and support available to the EEC
states are far greater than those available to the GCC’ s industrial sector.
Population in Kuwait:
The population mix in Kuwait has received greater attention from the
government of Kuwait since liberation, particularly on the level of national
planning and development. KISR’s TED has conducted a study on the
“Estimated Demand for Labour and Its Related Impact on the Population in
Kuwait”. This study is expected to contribute to the crystallization of the
national economic view, recommend the development of a special economic
policy to support major production sectors, and provide for their steady
growth.
133
wind and Wave Dynamics along Kuwait’s Coastline:
KISR built a complete database for wind and wave dynamics during
1993. The reason was to provide needed data for the Department of Coastal
Planning and Marine Installations Design. KISR collected the information
for the database through the Floating Wave Apparatus opposite the Fintas
area.
A computer programme has also been developed to analyze
mathematically and statistically all the data collected, and then to determine
through spectrometric analysis the energy carried by the waves, and measure
the height of the wave, its duration and direction.
New Plant Culture for the Landscaping of Kuwait’s Coastline:
KISR has cultured different species of plants suitable for growing along
Kuwait’s coastline. The mangrove is one such species. Mangrove seeds were
imported from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
A great number of plants are being cultured at a special site where it is
possible to monitor their growth and ability to acclimatize to the local
Kuwaiti environment. Based on the results, KTSR will decide which plants
are suitable for greening and landscaping Kuwait’s coastline.
National Information Policy:
KISR has carried out a number of pioneering activities in the
information field. However, it has yet to study the issue of national
information policy as a legislative framework for scientific and
technological information systems on a national level. Therefore, KISR
called for holding symposium on April 16-18, 1994, to discuss the
development of a national information policy. The symposium aimed to
attract the attention of the political leadership, and to call all concerned
parties to partake in setting up a framework for this policy.
134
Wind and Wave Dynamics along Kuwait’s Coastline:
KISR built a complete database for wind and wave dynamics during
1993. The reason was to provide needed data for the Department of Coastal
Planning and Marine Installations Design. KISR collected the information
for the database through the Floating Wave Apparatus opposite the Fintas
area.
A computer programme has also been developed to analyze
mathematically and statistically all the data collected, and then to determine
through spectrometric analysis the energy carried by the waves, and measure
the height of the wave, its duration and direction.
New Plant Culture for the Landscaping of Kuwait’s Coastline:
KISR has cultured different species of plants suitable for growing along
Kuwait’s coastline. The mangrove is one such species. Mangrove seeds were
imported from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
A great number of plants are being cultured at a special site where it is
possible to monitor their growth and ability to acclimatize to the local
Kuwaiti environment. Based on the results, KISR will decide which plants
are suitable for greening and landscaping Kuwait’s coastline.
National Information Policy:
KISR has carried out a number of pioneering activities in the
information field. However, it has yet to study the issue of national
information policy as a legislative framework for scientific and
technological information systems on a national level. Therefore, KISR
called for holding symposium on April 16-18, 1994, to discuss the
development of a national information policy. The symposium aimed to
attract the attention of the political leadership, and to call all concerned
parties to partake in setting up a framework for this policy.
135
Food and Nutrition Symposium, held in cooperation with the Kuwait National
Committee, on International Food Day, October 26, 1992
Arab Information Network-Users’ Symposium, May 17, 1993
136
KISR’s pavilion at the International Conference for the Third World Science
Academy
137
Abbreviations
- CAL: Central Analytical Laboratory.
- CRSK: Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait.
- DOT: Division of Training.
- ED: Engineering Division.
- EEC: European Economic Community.
- EESD: Environmental and Earth Sciences Division.
- FRD: Food Resource Division.
- GCC: Gulf Cooperation Council.
- ISD: Information System Department.
- KFAS: Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences
- KISR: Kuwait Institution for Scientific Research.
- NSTIC: National Scientific and Technical Information Center.
- NSTTC: National Scientific and Technical Information Center.
- PAAFR: The Public Authority for Agricultural and Fishery
Resources.
- PPMD: Petroleum, Petrochemicals, and Natural Division.
- TED: Techno-Economics Division.
- TW: Technical Workshops.
- WRD: Water Resource Division.
138
139

- Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research

Transcription

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