Kuwait keeps non-government members on top oil body

KUWAIT - Kuwait's ruler has appointed non-government members to the OPEC producer's top oil policy body, the Supreme Petroleum Council (SPC), despite political pressure to omit them, the official gazette showed on Sunday. The new SPC includes seven government members headed by the prime minister, and 10 non-government members appointed for three years, the decree published in the Gulf Arab state's official gazette said. Kuwait, the world's fourth-largest exporter, considered changes to the SPC last year as lawmakers pressed for the exclusion of non-government members. Lawmakers said they wanted to ensure there were no conflicts of interest for members of the body. Political paralysis in Kuwait caused by a long stand-off between parliament and the government has slowed plans to boost capacity in the country's oil sector. Major oil deals have been scrapped or delayed after criticism by members of parliament. The government faces a challenge restoring investor confidence in the sector after it ditched a multi-billion dollar petrochemicals deal with Dow Chemical in December 2008, a month after signing it, due to criticism in parliament. It also canceled multi-billion dollar contracts for a new refinery, and failed to renew expiring oil service contracts with some of the world's largest energy companies last year. Kuwait pumped 2.28 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude in January, according to a Reuters survey . The SPC was formed in 1974 to oversee the country's oil interests. Five ministers are permanently on the board, including the oil and commerce ministers, in addition to the central bank governor and the prime minister.