Iraqi Engineer Faruk al‑Kasim Pivotal to Norway’s Oil‑Driven Wealth

Faruk al‑Kasim, an Iraqi-born oil geologist born in 1934, devised the technical methods that enabled Norway to exploit North Sea oil in the late 1960s. His work laid the foundation for Norway’s transformation from a modest economy into one of the world’s wealthiest nations, chiefly through the creation of the Government Pension Fund Global, the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. By converting crude reserves into valuable inputs and instituting strict fiscal controls, Norway avoided the “resource curse” that afflicted many oil‑rich countries, including the United Kingdom, which experienced weaker economic outcomes despite similar reserves. Al‑Kasim’s contribution is highlighted as a key factor behind Norway’s 70 % higher per‑capita wealth compared with the UK, underscoring the importance of sound economic policy and technological expertise in turning natural resources into lasting prosperity.