KUWAIT: Kuwait is diligently seeking to enhance its energy output and withstand forecast power outages resulting from soaring demand for electricity. The need to boost the energy capacities has crystalized since June 20, when the authorities had to execute programmed power outages for a few days, in line with the approach to rationalize the electricity consumption.

The Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy had begun to act in parallel approaches to avert a future power crisis, namely speeding up the energy ventures and making use of international partnerships and accords, as well as examining feasible plans to enhance the electricity production for the summer of 2025. Kuwait is also seeking to activate the strategic memorandum of understanding, inked by the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy and the China National Energy Administration, to overhaul the renewable energy sector in particular and the energy field in general.

Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy and Minister of State for Housing Dr Mahmoud Boushehri, during a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Company (SPIC) and China’s representative in the Middle East and North Africa, Ma Shao, on July 15, examined means of developing the bilateral energy cooperation, namely planned enterprises with Beijing in this sector. A report released by the Energy Institute of Energy Review revealed that the consumption per capita in Kuwait grew by four percent in 2023, reaching 365.9 gigajoules compared to 364.4 gigajoules in 2022, placing Kuwait third in energy consumption among the Gulf States.

Power generation in Kuwait rose by 5.7 percent from 83.5 terawatts in 2022 to 88.3 terawatts in 2023, while Kuwait planned to secure 15 percent of the forecast power demand in 2030 from renewable energy resources. The forecasts show that the maximum load will hit 20,905 megawatts in 2030 and the expected electricity output will be 155,783 megawatts. On July 11, the load was registered (at 2:30 pm) at 17,120 megawatts.

The Ministry has set up 11 ventures to boost energy security in the coming two decades, with a capacity amounting to 22,100 megawatts, including 15,000 megawatts with conventional technology and 7,500 megawatts with renewable technology. The ministry launched in 2021 the “hafez” program to encourage citizens to rationalize electricity consumption, offering discounts on the bills. Up to 4,000 nationals joined the program in the first week of March. According to the program, a client that rationalizes consumption by less than 20 percent earns a double proportion in the form of sums in his/her account.

The offer reaches 40 percent of the bill value if the save reaches 30 percent and above. As to the water bill, the rationing at 25 percent is rewarded with double the percentage and 50 percent if it reaches 25 percent and higher. The value of the sums paid to the clients who benefited from “hafez” in February 2004 reached KD 121,000 ($400,000). Moreover, the ministry signed last Tuesday a deal to buy 500,000 digital meters from the telecommunications company, stc, at a value of KD 9.979 million ($32 million). The establishment of the smart meters will enable the ministry to enhance the level of rationing and have a clear and more specific reading of consumption. — KUNA