The Kuwaiti parliament has renewed confidence in Minister of Oil and Minister of Electricity and Water Bakheet Al-Rashidi in a vote at the National Assembly on May 10, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.

Out of the 45 attending lawmakers, 34 MPs opposed the no-confidence vote, while 11 approved it.

On May 2, ten MPs requested a vote of no confidence against the minister following session questioning his management of Kuwait’s oil portfolio.

MP Abdulwahab Al-Babtain said that Al-Rashidi was responsible for $9 billion losses stemming from a joint refinery project undertaken by Kuwait and Vietnam, according to KUNA.

KUNA reported Al-Rashidi as saying that the remarks made by the MPs during the questioning were “speculations” and not based on official reports.