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Kuwait cuts power citing high loads, maintenance

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4 months ago

April 2, 2025

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KUWAIT: The Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy implemented temporary power cuts in select agricultural and industrial areas on Wednesday, due to high electrical loads and scheduled maintenance in preparation for the summer season. Power was later restored to the affected areas. In a statement issued after the outages, the ministry reassured the public that it had coordinated with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Interconnection Authority to support Kuwait’s national grid and ensure continued stability.

The ministry had earlier warned that limited outages might occur in certain zones, particularly in agricultural areas like Al-Rawdatain, Al-Wafra, and Al-Abdali, and industrial areas including Mina Abdullah, Shuaiba, Al-Rai and Shuwaikh Industrial. The outages were time-specific, with no disruptions expected to last more than three hours. This was a precautionary measure aimed at maintaining grid stability amid rising demand. The ministry also urged the public to conserve electricity, particularly during peak hours from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The cuts come just a day after Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy Dr Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem visited the Subiya Power and Water Distillation Plant to check on ongoing preparations for the summer season. Dr Al-Mukhaizeem expressed his gratitude to the ministry’s employees, particularly those working during the holiday period, and reassured them of the government’s commitment to ensuring service continuity. The minister also emphasized the importance of workforce training to address any challenges in Kuwait’s electricity and water sectors.

During his visit, the minister toured various sections of the plant, including the Electric Control Room and Thermal Control Room, and received briefings on the plant’s operations. With a capacity of 7,100 megawatts — accounting for about 35 percent of Kuwait’s total electricity production — and the ability to produce 100 million imperial gallons of water per day, the Subiya plant plays a critical role in supporting the nation’s energy needs, particularly during the summer months.

Last summer, Kuwait’s power grid struggled with electricity shortages when temperatures soared above 52 degrees Celsius, prompting the ministry to implement scheduled power cuts to prevent grid instability. To prevent similar issues this year, the ministry said it was working on upgrading its infrastructure. The planned upgrades are part of an ongoing effort that includes the development of the Subiya Power Plant and other major projects aimed at boosting capacity.

Last year, Kuwait saw substantial investments and progress in its efforts to expand its electricity and renewable energy capacity. Former Minister Dr Mahmoud Boushehri — who resigned last month — signed a contract for a $384 million expansion of the Subiya Power Plant, aimed at increasing the plant’s production by 250 megawatts. At the time, the ministry said it was also finalizing tenders for additional phases of power plant expansions, including the construction of the North Al-Zour and Al-Khairat stations, which are expected to add significant capacity in the coming years.

In November 2024, the former minister announced that over 17,000 megawatts of new capacity is expected to come online over the next five years, with 30 percent of that from renewable energy sources. Kuwait’s electricity demand surged to a record high of over 17,360 megawatts during the summer of 2024. On Wednesday, however, the load reached 9,813 megawatts, likely due to the temporary shutdown of some power plants for maintenance.

Related Topics:citing cuts high Kuwait loads maintenance power

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Deputy PM, Armenian envoy discuss security cooperation

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July 21, 2025

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KUWAIT: First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah met on Monday with Armenian Ambassador to Kuwait Dr Arsen Arakelian to discuss issues of mutual interest and explore ways to boost bilateral security cooperation and efforts to combat crime. In a statement issued by the General Department of Public Relations and Security Media, the ministry said the meeting, held at the Ministry of Interior headquarters, reflects Kuwait’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation in the field of security.

Sheikh Fahad praised the strong ties between Kuwait and Armenia, affirming Kuwait’s eagerness to deepen bilateral collaboration, particularly in areas related to law enforcement and public safety. Ambassador Arakelian expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and reiterated Armenia’s interest in enhancing cooperation with Kuwait across various sectors. Both sides emphasized the importance of continuing coordination to further solidify the longstanding relations between the two friendly nations and advance shared interests. — KUNA

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China, Kuwait discuss expanding defense ties

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July 21, 2025

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KUWAIT: Deputy Chief of Staff of the Kuwaiti Army, Air Vice Marshal Sabah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah held talks on Sunday with the Defense Attache of the Chinese Embassy in Kuwait to boost bilateral defense ties and military cooperation. The is meeting aimed at reinforcing regional stability, exchanging expertise as well as supporting the development of sustainable defense industries aligned with both countries’ national interests. In the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their firm belief in the role of defense diplomacy for building long-term strategic partnerships that contribute to regional security, stability, and a future based on cooperation and peace. — KUNA

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Kuwait targets financial crimes | Kuwait Times Newspaper

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16 hours ago

July 21, 2025

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MoI and customs, CMA and FIU sign MoUs to combat money laundering, terror financing

KUWAIT: The interior ministry’s department for combating money laundering and terrorism funding and the customs department on Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation in fighting financial crimes, the customs department said. The accord aims to strengthen mutual cooperation and the exchange of information in accordance with international standards set by the UN Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The customs department said in a statement that the MoU comes within the framework of boosting collaboration between state establishments in fighting money laundering and terrorism financing. It also aims at intensifying regulatory procedures to support the national system in reducing financial crimes and boost Kuwait’s commitment to relevant international standards, the statement added.

Separately, the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) also signed an MoU on Sunday with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) regarding cooperation and exchange of information in the field of combating money laundering, related predicate offenses and terrorism financing. The agreement aims to establish a framework for collaboration and coordination between the two entities in this domain.

In a press release, the CMA stated that the MoU covers several aspects, including the scope of information that the FIU may provide to the CMA and vice versa. It also outlines the mechanism for exchanging information between the two parties and defines the scope of use for the shared information, ensuring full adherence to confidentiality standards.

The memorandum also specifies areas of cooperation, which include holding regular meetings to strengthen joint efforts, coordinating preventive and control measures, exchanging information and expertise, preparing training programs and development plans for personnel of both entities and participating in each other’s training sessions related to

Last month, the Kuwaiti government issued a new law that enhances the country’s legal framework in combating money laundering and terrorism financing. The legislation made two key amendments to a 2013 law on fighting money laundering and financing of terrorism to allow the Cabinet to issue decisions to implement resolutions passed by the UN Security Council regarding financing terrorism and freezing assets, and to impose hefty fines on violators.

In a June 3 report, FATF said Kuwait has solid legislation to impose financial penalties against terrorist financing and the spread of weapons of mass destruction. However, gaps in the legal system make it hard to freeze assets of these activities effectively, FATF said.