KUWAIT CITY, Oct 30: The Kuwaiti Cabinet held its weekly session on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations, led by His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sherida Abdullah Saad Al-Muasherji issued a statement summarizing the session's discussions.

At the outset, the Cabinet reviewed messages from the Amiri Diwan addressed to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah from leaders of friendly countries. These messages emphasized strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation across various sectors.

The Cabinet was briefed on Amiri Decree No. 183 of 2024, appointing Sayed Jalal Sayed Abdulmohsen Al-Tabtabaei as Minister of Education and Tariq Sulaiman Ahmed Al-Roumi as Minister of Oil. Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad welcomed the newly appointed ministers and expressed gratitude for their commitment to their roles, encouraging them to work as a unified team to advance Kuwait’s development and meet citizens' aspirations. The Prime Minister also highlighted the support of His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

The Cabinet then received a presentation from Health Minister Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi on Kuwait's new maternity hospital, one of the largest in the region. Dr. Al-Awadhi extended his gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet members for their visit to inspect the hospital’s facilities. In response, the Prime Minister praised Dr. Al-Awadhi, Public Works Minister Dr. Noura Mohammed Al-Mashaan, and other government entities for their dedication to this important project.

Additionally, First Deputy Prime Minister, Defense Minister, and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah briefed the Cabinet on his recent visit to Qatar from October 28-29, where he participated in the opening of the 15th Milipol Qatar 2024 Exhibition and Conference. The event, organized by Qatar’s Ministry of Interior, showcased the latest security technologies from over 250 companies. Sheikh Fahad also visited Qatar’s National Command Center and attended part of the office exercises organized by the Watan 2024 Joint Exercises Committee.

Sheikh Fahad further updated the Cabinet on his meetings with the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing security and military cooperation between Kuwait and Qatar.

The Cabinet also reviewed a presentation from Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy Dr. Mahmoud Abdulaziz Bushehri on Kuwait’s power generation and distribution status, along with future electricity demand forecasts through 2030. The briefing highlighted upcoming projects, including expansions of the Subiya and Al-Zour North power stations, as well as the development of the Khairan, Nuwaiseeb, Abdaliya, and Shagaya renewable energy projects.

The Cabinet underscored the importance of expanding Kuwait’s electricity infrastructure and enhancing production capacity. It recommended seeking private sector involvement to establish and operate power stations with independent power supply systems to reduce production costs. Additionally, the Cabinet stressed the need for mechanisms to prevent power outages in response to the growing electricity demand anticipated for the coming summer season.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from the Cabinet to continue efforts to ensure the stability and security of Kuwait and to support initiatives that foster national development. (KUNA)