Kuwait opens door for oil firms to build solar power plants under new energy law

Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said recent amendments to legislation governing electricity generation projects will now permit oil companies to build solar power plants to meet future energy demands.

The sources noted that the ministry is open to any initiative that contributes to increasing electricity production capacity, provided that such projects align with applicable legal frameworks, reports Al-Rai daily.

“The ministry welcomes proposals that support national power generation goals, whether through the Public-Private Partnership Authority or initiatives directly proposed by the ministry itself,” the sources said.

The sources emphasized that all electricity projects will move forward in accordance with the ministry’s established timelines.

Meanwhile, progress is also being made in the water sector. The committee tasked with developing specifications and standards for the upcoming smart water meter tender is close to completing its work. The tender will soon be submitted to the Central Tenders Agency for implementation.

The sources explained that the committee studied experiences from other Gulf countries with similar climates to inform its recommendations. Once finalized, the tender will reflect these findings to ensure maximum efficiency and reliability.

A ministry official added that the installation of smart water meters, alongside ongoing deployment of smart electricity meters, will significantly enhance the speed and accuracy of dues collection. “Once smart meters are fully installed across all government facilities, the budgets previously allocated to traditional meter-reading contracts can be redirected to other essential services,” she said.

These developments mark a significant step toward Kuwait’s broader goals of modernizing its energy infrastructure and promoting renewable energy sources, while enhancing fiscal efficiency across the public utility sector.