Kuwait boosts summer power preparedness with 205 diesel generators

As summer temperatures soar, Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy has announced full readiness to handle potential power outages through its Emergency Services Department. With a fleet of 205 diesel generators stationed across key locations in Saad Al-Abdullah, Subhan, and Fahaheel, the ministry is equipped to respond swiftly and efficiently to any disruptions.

According to Eng. Adel Mahmoud, Director of the Emergency Services Department under the Electricity Distribution Networks Sector, the ministry has signed a new contract for 42 additional generators, which will be delivered over the coming year. The existing fleet has already been expanded with 44 new generators of varying capacities (180 kV to 1,800 kV) to support residential and large-scale outages, in addition to 27 fixed units strategically placed across the country, reports Al-Jarida daily.

The department receives and processes around 70 reports daily, including generator deployment, diesel refueling, and maintenance. In high-demand situations, up to 30 generators may be deployed in a single day. Most power outages are linked to faults in underground residential cables.

The department operates proactively, dispatching generators without waiting for formal complaints. Its response time is 10–15 minutes, coordinated through a dedicated operations room. A mobile maintenance unit ensures quick servicing in remote areas like Shaqaya, Salmi, and Nuwaiseeb.

All generators adhere to international noise and emission standards, with modern units integrated into a central smart monitoring system for real-time fault detection. Despite these advances, the department faces field challenges such as blocked access to transformers due to improperly parked vehicles, which often require intervention from the Ministry of Interior.

The diesel generators are also used in winter during substation maintenance and support key projects like groundwater production. A notable achievement includes preventing overloads in Abdali farms last summer by using generators to reduce pressure on the main grid.

With continued investment in technology, maintenance, and capacity building, Kuwait’s Emergency Services Department remains a cornerstone of the nation’s energy reliability strategy.