Kuwait’s Summer Electricity Crunch Set To Worsen

3 Nov 2023 Issue: 66 / 44 By: Yesar Al-Maleki

Kuwait’s installed power capacity has stagnated in recent years, while annual demand keeps on rising. Summer 2023 saw a number of blackouts. With the Ministry of Electricity and Water struggling to add new capacity the situation is likely to worsen next year, though Kuwait is looking to step up imports from its GCC neighbors.

Alarm bells are ringing in Kuwait after the country narrowly escaped without a major grid meltdown during the summer 2023 peak demand season. Multiple outages were reported as residents sought the refuge of their air conditioning units amidst scorching temperatures, with peak demand in August coming just 5% below available capacity (MEES, 22 September).

The power sector is increasingly suffering the consequences of Kuwait’s stifling bureaucracy and political stalemate, which have prevented the development of capital-intensive projects in a range of sectors. There have been no sizeable power capacity expansions since 2020, with installed capacity set to remain flat at 20.25GW until at least 2025 and most likely beyond. The situation is especially perilous as the bureaucratic logjam is holding up much needed maintenance contracts, without which available capacity may drop in 2024. (CONTINUED - 1867 WORDS)