KITAKYUSHU, Japan, Nov 25 (KUNA) -- Seven Kuwaiti engineers from the Ministry of Energy and Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) on Saturday completed a one-month training course on air pollution prevention technology specifically designed for personnel in the oil sectors.
The engineers also learned about Kuwait-Japan diplomatic relations, Japanese culture and they visited to Hiroshima and historic Kyoto.
Aiming at enhancing the bilateral ties, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) has run a series of such training courses for Kuwaiti engineers since 2003, as a part of the technology transfer cooperation initiatives agreed by both governments.
The program, organized by the Kitakyushu International Techno-cooperative Association (KITA) and Arabian Oil Company Ltd., featured an intensive course held in Kitakyushu, 800 kilometers west of Tokyo. At KITA, engineers learned prevention technology of dust, sulfur oxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) as well as practical skills of sampling and analyzing.
There were also visits to environment-related facilities at Japan's largest Eco-Town Project, an electric plant and a steel company to observe how clean production is realized. The engineers showed extreme concern to environmental issues, and vowed to apply what they have learned through the course to the future.
At Toyota Motor Kyushu, Inc., Kuwaiti engineers toured its state-of-the-art factory producing Lexus luxury vehicles and environment-friendly hybrid models. The plant builds 430,000 units a year, most of which are exported to the world. They asked a chain of questions concerning the world's second-largest automaker's environmental measures, such as how to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and how their cars are recyled.
Oil refineries are often considered as a main source of environmental pollution with respect to the emission of poisonous gases in the surrounding atmosphere. KITA received the first group of Kuwaiti participants early 2005. According to the association, the Kuwaiti side has expressed a strong interest in anti-pollution measures at the meeting of concerned parties held in Kuwait, especially air and water pollution prevention technologies.
Since it was established in 1980, more than 4,100 trainees from nearly 120 nations participated in KITA's training programs, which are supported by some 200 local businesses and related institutions.
The courses also include lectures on the history of overcoming pollution in the city of Kitaskyushu and environmental laws. The city supported the high growth of the Japanese economy in the 1960s and the 70s as one of the four major industrial areas, but its rapid development also created same of the most serious cases of environmental pollution in the world. Although it was once dubbed "city of gray," the city has overcome environmental pollution problems through the joint efforts by citizens, industries and local government.
By Miyoko Ishigami
