DUBAI - Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Co (KIPIC) has begun operating the gas line that will feed its long-delayed Al-Zour refinery, state news agency KUNA said on Tuesday.

Originally planned more than a decade ago but repeatedly delayed, Al-Zour will be the largest integrated refinery and petrochemicals plant in Kuwait.

Al-Zour's production capacity is estimated at 615,000 barrels per day, increasing Kuwait's overall refining capacity to over 1.5 million barrels a day.

KIPIC, a subsidiary of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, appointed a unit of U.S. multinational Honeywell International last year to provide technology and production systems for Al-Zour.

KIPIC was set up to manage refinery, petrochemicals and LNG import operations at the Al-Zour complex south of Kuwait City.

(Reporting by Maha El Dahan; Writing by Yousef Saba; Editing by Louise Heavens) ((Maha.Dahan@thomsonreuters.com; + 9712 4082101; Reuters Messaging: maha.dahan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))