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Inaccurate power cut communication leaves some people at risk in Kuwait

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5 months ago

May 4, 2025

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Experts say generators could become essential to mitigate risks during power outages

KUWAIT: Some residents in Kuwait are calling for clearer communication and better preparedness to address confusion and safety risks arising from the government’s scheduled power cuts.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy has been rolling out scheduled power cuts in various areas across the country to manage high electrical loads and carry out maintenance ahead of the summer season. Although the ministry is issuing advance warnings through its social media channels, including information about the affected areas, timings, and outage durations, many residents report that communication gaps and inconsistencies have left them increasingly vulnerable.

Several people shared their struggles with inconsistent messaging on the power cuts under a post published on its Instagram page. “Please stick to the posted outage schedules. Today, there was no mention of a power cut in Jabriya, Block 5. We have medical equipment at home, and we were not prepared. We need credibility in the information you share with the public,” said Ebtisam Dashti.

Another user, Anwr, advised people to regularly check the ministry’s Instagram stories. “They keep posting updates for areas not originally listed in the main schedule. Things have become random and chaotic.”

Mohamed Nageh, a resident of Hawally, told Kuwait Times that power was disconnected in his area on a different day and for longer than what was announced by the ministry, catching many off guard.

“Some people were literally trapped inside elevators, while others were completely caught off guard. Instead of lasting two hours as announced, the outage continued throughout the entire day,” he said.

Kuwait Fire Force has clearly warned against using elevators during scheduled outages. The fire force also strongly warns against attempting to open elevator doors without professional assistance, emphasizing that such actions could risk lives. But those in Nageh’s building felt they had no choice with the outage continuing for hours. “We had to manually force open elevator doors to rescue those trapped inside,” added Nageh. He lamented the lack of a backup generator in the building, which could have prevented the ordeal.

Backup generators needed

With power cuts being a rare occurrence in Kuwait until recently, most residential buildings in Kuwait don’t have backup generators. But these machines could now become essential to mitigate risks during power outages, an expert argues.

“Generators ensure that critical systems like emergency alarms, elevators, lighting, and ventilation remain operational,” Omar Alsaadi, a safety engineer, told Kuwait Times.

A generator shop owner with 20 years of experience in Kuwait emphasized that without backup power, fire safety systems cannot function during blackouts. “Every building should be equipped with a proper fire system and a backup generator, especially those with elevators,” he said.

The idea of requiring buildings to install backup generators has long been discussed. In 2017, the Ministry of Electricity and Water proposed mandating emergency generators for commercial complexes, investment residential complexes, and investment residential buildings with more than 10 floors.

Kuwait Municipality was also studying amending building regulations to include mandatory emergency generators for elevators, emergency exits, and main corridors in investment and commercial buildings. At that time, the ministry also encouraged exploring renewable energy sources to diversify Kuwait’s power supply. Years later, no progress has been reported on the two initiatives. While the obstacles remain unclear, Alsaadi said that making backup generators mandatory for all buildings would be extremely costly for building owners, making the idea impractical.

Slight uptick

Despite the continued power cuts, demand for buying generators this year has only seen a slight uptick. One generator shop owner reported a 10–15 percent increase in demand. According to Aldoussari Generators Company, the most purchased generators, priced around KD 4,500, are typically bought by farm owners and businesses in industrial areas, where power outages are more frequent and prolonged throughout the year.

Mohamad Al-Khodari, another supplier, noted that renting generators remains far more common than purchasing them, with rental requests rising by around 20 percent since the end of Ramadan. Rental rates now range between KD 600 and KD 1,000 per day, depending on the unit’s size and capacity. “There are more than 642 companies operating in the generator sector across Kuwait,” Al-Khodari added, noting that most offer products from major international brands.

While generators could be helpful in emergencies, residents are increasingly calling for more permanent solutions to Kuwait’s energy challenges. Social media discussions show growing support for the use of solar energy, stricter energy management practices, particularly regarding air conditioning, and the enforcement of penalties for excessive energy consumption. They are urging authorities to focus not only on crisis management but also on sustainable energy reforms that safeguard lives, property, and the environment.

Related Topics:communication cut Inaccurate Kuwait leaves people power risk

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CAIRO: Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah on Monday reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to strengthening joint Arab social and developmental efforts to uphold human rights and promote social justice. Delivering her speech at the 82nd session of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, held at the League of Arab States headquarters in Egypt, Dr Al-Huwailah opened by expressing deep sorrow over the tragic death of three Amiri Diwan employees in a traffic accident in Sharm El-Sheikh, offering condolences to the families and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

She expressed pride in Kuwait’s participation in the session, which addressed key social and developmental issues, and expressed hope it would yield decisions supporting social justice policies and the empowerment of women, girls, and persons with disabilities, particularly in political participation and gender equality. Dr Al-Huwailah noted that the session would adopt the draft agenda for the 45th session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs and prepare for the Second World Summit for Social Development, scheduled in Doha next November. She emphasized Kuwait’s aspiration for Arab countries to make a strong and active presence at these events, showcasing development achievements and exchanging experiences in social care.

Officials are pictured during the meeting. - KUNA photos

Highlighting Kuwait’s role, she said the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, and the Public Authority for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities are committed to following up on the implementation of Council decisions, ensuring coordination that respects diversity and privacy while promoting social justice.

Dr Al-Huwailah concluded by thanking Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity and Head of the Executive Office Dr Maya Morsi for the warm reception and efficient organization. She also praised Egypt’s efforts in hosting the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit and its unwavering support for ending the conflict in Palestine. The Executive Office meetings are chaired by Egypt, with membership including Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, the Comoros, Lebanon and Libya, alongside the participation of the Social Affairs Sector of the League of Arab States, represented by Minister Plenipotentiary Enas Al-Farjani.- KUNA

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Al-Abhoul said eliminating poverty in all its forms remains Kuwait’s top priority. Nearly a decade after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, only 35 percent have recorded tangible progress, while nearly half are stalled and 18 percent have slipped below the 2015 baseline, he noted. He added that the annual financing gap has now surpassed $4 trillion.

On climate, Al-Abhoul warned that challenges are more urgent than ever, with floods, droughts and wildfires causing severe losses and shrinking some economies by up to five percent annually. He called for a flexible and accessible climate finance mechanism and urged the establishment of partnerships to accelerate development progress. He stressed the need for eased financing terms, debt relief, mobilization of humanitarian resources and targeted investment in sustainable agriculture, food supply chains, innovation and digital infrastructure. The current international financial system, he said, is no longer capable of keeping pace with today’s challenges and must undergo comprehensive reform to become fairer and more transparent.

Highlighting Kuwait’s longstanding commitment to development cooperation, Al-Abhoul pointed to the creation of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development in 1961 as a model of solidarity. The fund has financed more than 1,000 projects in over 100 countries, he said. Turning to the Middle East, he condemned ongoing human rights and environmental violations in the region. He said the committee must not remain silent when mandated to follow up on development challenges.

He expressed Kuwait’s strongest condemnation of the Zionist occupation’s use of starvation as a weapon against civilians and its terrorizing of unarmed populations in blatant violation of international law. He called for the lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid, the guarantee of safe delivery, and accountability for those who use food and life as tools of war. Al-Abhoul stressed that the next five years will be critical and must deliver tangible, measurable progress on development commitments.— KUNA