Small nuclear reactors can power Kuwait’s AI future: Al-Mutairi

Dr. Bader Al-Mutairi, associate scientific researcher and nuclear energy expert at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, says small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) could serve as a bridge to transform Kuwait into an artificial intelligence (AI) economy.

He explained that each SMR unit generates 20–300 megawatts of electricity, occupies minimal space, and produces zero carbon emissions.

“These units provide continuous power, unlike solar or wind, and their high temperature can be used to desalinate water and provide sustainable cooling for AI data centers,” Al-Mutairi told Al-Rai.

Al-Mutairi highlighted a Microsoft delegation’s warning during a recent visit, saying, “Artificial intelligence never sleeps, and neither should your electrical grid.”

The comment underscores the critical need for uninterrupted electricity to power AI servers. Other Gulf countries, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are already advancing large-scale nuclear and research reactors to meet similar energy demands.

He noted that Kuwait currently relies almost entirely on gas turbines, leaving the nation vulnerable to power shortages, particularly during peak summer demand. “Massive data centers consume between 300 and 600 megawatts per site,” he added, emphasizing that investors prioritize countries with clean, reliable, and continuous energy.

According to Al-Mutairi, Kuwait’s main challenge is not technology but governance. No independent nuclear regulatory body exists; the Ministry of Health currently oversees radioactive materials—a system suited for hospitals, not electricity-generating reactors. He stressed that public confidence is equally important, citing awareness campaigns in the UAE and Saudi Arabia prior to nuclear fuel loading.

Al-Mutairi outlined three immediate actions for Kuwait to secure its place in the AI-driven economy:

• Conduct a feasibility study for SMRs that combine electricity generation and water desalination.
• Establish an independent nuclear regulatory body, aligned with International Atomic Energy Agency standards.
• Create unified electricity and water contracts to attract global cloud computing firms, similar to the UAE’s Barakah model.

He warned that without unified energy and water strategies, Kuwait risks being left out of the AI race, with major data centers built elsewhere in the region.

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