MEED magazine has reported a concerning situation in Kuwait where soaring temperatures have led to the depletion of electricity and water reserves. The mercury climbed to a scorching 51 degrees Celsius earlier this month, causing the electricity load index to surge to 16,940 megawatts. This breach exceeded the anticipated maximum load for the year, set at 16,830 megawatts, by a margin of 0.7%.
According to MEED’s findings, this year’s projected maximum load surpasses last year’s record by 4%, leaving only 8% of reserve capacity against an available generation capacity of 18,250 megawatts. The pressing situation compelled the government to tap into its strategic reserves by August 2 when water consumption outpaced production by 29 million gallons, reports Al-Rai daily.
The heightened electricity demand resulted in the disconnection of two key transformers in South Surra, leading to power disruptions in portions of the Zahra’a region within the Hawalli Governorate.
The Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy, as cited by the magazine, sought to reassure citizens that the country’s electricity grid could safely provide up to 17,660 megawatts out of the available 18,250 megawatts this summer.
To address the predicament, the Ministry, in collaboration with the Partnership Projects Authority, received pre-qualification applications for contracts linked to the construction of two autonomous water and electricity production projects in North Az-Zour and Al-Khairan.
These initiatives, which have been in the planning and procurement stages since 2017, collectively possess the potential to generate 4,500 megawatts of electricity and over 150 million gallons of water daily. This bodes well for alleviating Kuwait’s precarious electricity and water situation.
It’s noteworthy that the lengthy delays encountered during these years have prompted frustration among developers and contractors, who have submitted qualification documents for contracts twice in the past eleven months. The exact reasons for these delays remain unspecified.
While some developers anticipate swift approval and progress in the procurement process for integrated electricity and water facilities, others harbor less optimism. Despite applying for re-qualification, one source expressed skepticism about the pace of progress.
MEED magazine highlights the irony that, despite Kuwait’s commitment to becoming carbon-neutral by 2060, the Ministry of Electricity has not achieved significant advancements in securing new production capacity from renewable energy sources.
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