Saudi Arabia, Kuwait discuss resuming Neutral Zone oil production

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have discussed resuming oil production in jointly operated fields in the Saudi–Kuwaiti Neutral Zone, Kuwaiti state news agency KUNA said on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia's minister of state for energy affairs visited Kuwait to "continue to discuss and cooperate on the resumption of oil production in the southern [Neutral Zone] after settling all required technical issues from both sides," KUNA said, quoting a Kuwaiti government spokesman.

The Saudi–Kuwaiti Neutral Zone, or Divided Zone, is an area of 5,770 square kilometers between the two countries' borders that was left undefined when the border was established in 1922.

The two countries halted output from the jointly run oilfields - Khafji and Wafra - more than four years ago, cutting some 500,000 barrels per day or 0.5 percent of global oil supply.

In February 2019, Saudi energy minister Khalid Al-Falih said the country expected to reach an agreement this year to resume oil output from the Neutral Zone.