‘Smart meters in 3 months’
Gas turbines unit project opened
KUWAIT CITY, April 8: The Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, Minister of Social Affairs, Labor and Community Development, Dr. Mishaan Al-Otaibi, announced the first phase of the installation of smart meters will begin within 3 months.
The minister was quoted as saying within three years entire Kuwait will be provided with smart meters.
This came in statements to reporters on the sidelines of the opening of a project for the supply, installation, operation and maintenance of gas turbine units operating on the combined cycle system to increase the electric power in the Subbiya station for electric power and water distillation.
On the issue of filling vacant administrative positions, Al-Otaibi pointed out the summer season is just around the corner and the ministry is keep not to confuse the administrative apparatus. However, he said, the vacant positions will be filled by the end of summer.
He said the ministry makes special preparations for the summer and in this regard, he said, the ministry has increased the electricity production stations by 80 percent, and all works are expected to be completed by the end of May.
He disclosed the ministry has formed special teams of technicians to repair faults during the summer of 2021. He explained the available production capacity for this year will be about 18,500 megawatts, and “we also expect that the highest consumption for this year will be 16,000 megawatts, which means
that we have a surplus in energy of about 2,500 megawatts, and this does not mean people use energy recklessly and in a wasteful manner.
“We invite everyone to rationalize consumption and conserve electricity and water,” he said.
He indicated the production capacity of these units is 900 megawatts, which will contribute to meeting the increase in the expected consumption rates in light of the current growth in housing projects, so it is the duty of the Ministry of Electricity to build more stations to meet this growing demand.
Al-Otaibi explained this opening will be followed by more projects in the near future, and indicated that the ministry’s decree includes the addition of renewable energy that has become available and economically feasible, and the ministry is currently in cooperation and coordination with the Partnership Authority, which will present a project
to produce electricity from renewable energy (solar energy) to produce 3,000 Megawatts, which represents an excellent percentage to reach the 15% target for Kuwait’s productivity.
On the sidelines of the opening yesterday, Al-Otaibi said the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy stands on the threshold of the summer season, which usually witnesses a remarkable increase in power consumption, which is expected to reach the highest consumption in this summer to 15,677 megawatts, and with this the ministry has succeeded during the years.
The last one in the challenges imposed by the summer seasons, especially the ministry safely bypassing the summer of 2020, which is the most difficult matter due to the exceptional circumstances that the country went through due to the Corona pandemic.