KUWAIT, April 12 (KUNA) -- A technical team managed to fix the crude oil distillation unit of Mina Abdullah Refinery, thus saving USD 21.9 million of possible losses for Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC).

This is a new global achievement that adds to the numerous achievements of the KNPC, Alam Al-Mo'assassa magazine reported on its latest issue on Tuesday, citing managing director of the refinery Mohammad Al-Mutairi.

The internal layer of the crude heater of the distillation unit eroded due to continuous operation and risked damaging the outer steel frame which was exposed to meltdown.

The team faced the challenge of fixing the problem without stopping the unit and was able to assert its efficacy and excellence, using the world's latest technologies, Al-Mutairi added.

He affirmed that if the team used the traditional method of fixing such a problem and stopped the unit, this would cost the corporation up to USD 21.9 million.