KUWAIT: Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research witnessed the linking of the solar and wind power station in Shaqaya in cooperation with the Ministry of Electricity and Water during a celebration organized by KISR under the patronage of its Director General Sameera Ahmad Al-Sayed Omar and Minister Ahmad Al-Jassar. This is the first actual step in seeking the fulfillment of His Highness the Amir's instructions to use renewable energy for 15 percent of the state's need of energy by 2030. Executive Director of the Energy and Construction Research Center Saleem Al-Hajraf said this move is one of several taken this year towards implementing the Shaqaya initiative for renewable energy. He said the institute began by preparing strategic, economic, technical and environmental studies for renewable energy techniques in the country.

Social aid

Social Affairs and Labor Minister and State Minister for Planning and Development Hind Al-Subaih sent the social aid case at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) to the general prosecutor and asked that legal procedures be taken with regards to investigating suspicious criminal behaviors related to the aid. The letter said when the aid files were being reexamined, administrative violations were discovered. When they were referred for administrative investigations, some employees of the family care department, who were supposed to recover amounts paid unjustifiably, were found guilty of laxity and negligence. The referral letter mentioned that investigations at the ministry ended by punishing some employees of the family care department, as the violations constitute a penal crime according to article 14 of the public funds protection law 1/1993.

LNG project

Work has started at Kuwait Integrated Petrochemical Industries Company (KIPIC) to finance the liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. The procedures started with the appointment of an advisor, who needs 18 months to help in framing the financing of the project. The company said the Al-Zour refinery will be self-financing, and administrative actions are proceeding parallel to technical and organizational work.

Not enough

The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) wrote to the finance ministry with regards to the 2016-2017 budget over supervision, teaching rewards and allocating KD 17 million. The letter said PAAET is one of the bodies that contributes to graduating thousands of specialists in all fields, and receives more and more intermediate and secondary graduates every year, which warrants the opening of new classes to ensure students graduate according to schedule. It said the proposed amount for 2016-2017 (KD 17,018,000) is a reduction in PAAET's budget, and more should be allocated to resolve problems, particularly with the continued increase of student numbers.

Allowance

Secretary General of the Ministry of Electricity and Water's labor union Nawaf Buyabes said special allowances for staff who spent long times in front their computer monitors were deposited in their accounts, and it will be paid with December's salary retroactively.