KUWAIT: Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, and the Acting Minister of Public Works Dr Jassem Al-Ostad affirmed on Wednesday that the expansion project of the sewage station in Umm Al-Haiman is one of the key projects in the country’s development plan and a leading project in treating sewage water for utilization. Ostad stated during a tour that included the expansion project and the sewage pumping station in the Sabah Al-Ahmad that the project serves the governorates of Ahmadi and Mubarak Al-Kabeer, with a cost of approximately KD 1.5 billion and a capacity of 500,000 cubic meters.

He added the significance of the station lies in utilizing the treated water for agricultural and landscaping purposes, as well as for the needs of Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) in accordance with environmental considerations. Additionally, the project aims to harness the methane gas produced by the treatment stations to generate energy for the facility. Ostad explained that the project was carried out in collaboration with the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects, a German company and another Kuwaiti company specializing in this field. He noted that in the future, the project would be opened for public subscription.

Regarding the sewage crisis in Sabah Al-Ahmad, Ostad mentioned that, under the directives of the political leadership and with Kuwaiti determination, the sewage pumping station was inaugurated on a trial basis to facilitate and alleviate the suffering of residents in the area. Following the station’s operation, an environmental impact study will be conducted to assess the environmental effects of the sewage crisis in Sabah Al-Ahmad, forming a fact-finding committee to identify environmental damages and shortcomings in the country’s infrastructure. A comprehensive study of the health situation of sewage and treated water will also be conducted to ensure the creation of a healthy environment in line with global health standards.

Ostad emphasized the importance of structural change in the sanitation engineering sector in the ministry, which currently lacks the necessary resources, resulting in the current crisis. He stated that the reasons for the delay in the sewage station for the city of South Mutlaa are currently being identified to avoid a recurrence of the scenario in Sabah Al-Ahmad.

Ahmed Al-Saleh, the Chief Specialist Engineer and Director of Umm Al-Haiman Projects, mentioned in a similar statement that sewage water for the Sabah Al-Ahmad area has been successfully connected to the station in coordination with the Public Authority for Housing Welfare, and the network is being cleaned. “Electricity has been supplied to the station today by the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, and all equipment is being inspected in preparation for the station’s operation in the coming hours,” he added.

Saleh noted all obstacles to the project have been addressed with the guidance of Ostad and the cooperation of state entities, including the Ministry of Electricity and Water, KAPP, Ministry of Housing and the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources. – KUNA