KUWAIT: The unprecedented heat in the country continues to rise, as temperatures exceeded 50 degrees Celsius before the official start of summer. On Tuesday, Kuwait recorded its highest electricity consumption as the temperature hit more than 50 degrees Celsius, an official at the ministry of electricity and water announced. Kuwait's electricity consumption on Tuesday was 14,360 megawatts, up 3.5 percent compared with the highest rate registered last year, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity and Water Mohammad Boushehri told KUNA.

The rise in electricity consumption is expected in summer due to rising temperatures, which forces people to operate air conditioners in houses and other facilities, he said. Boushehri also assured that the record rise does not pose any threat to Kuwait's power grid, as it has an overall capacity of up to 18,000 megawatts. Although Kuwait's grid has a surplus, he advised people to rationalize their consumption of power. - KUNA