KUWAIT CITY, April 12: The weekend drop in temperatures reduced power consumption by 2,200 megawatts on Friday, with the load index recording 10,400 megawatts compared to the peak of 12,640 megawatts last Thursday. Sources from the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy pointed out that most government buildings are closed during the weekend; indicating these buildings consume large amounts of energy to operate their air conditioners and facilities -- both central and on-site.

Sources affirmed this, along with the lower temperatures, prompted the ministry to refrain from implementing the programmed power cuts in residential, industrial and agricultural areas; which happened in the previous week. Sources also pointed out that the inclusion of units under maintenance to the power grid on a regular basis and the import of electricity from the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) will mitigate the power crisis brought about by lack of productivity, as well as provide relief to the grid in the coming days. Earlier, the ministry announced scheduled power outages in some parts of 21 residential areas for one week from Saturday, April 12 to Saturday, April 19. The outages, which will last for four hours, will begin daily at 8:00 am. According to a statement issued by the ministry, the outages are necessary to carry out maintenance work on a number of secondary transformer plants.

The affected areas include: Farwaniya Block 3; Yarmouk Block 3; Saad Al-Abdullah blocks 1, 2, 3, and 4; Fintas; Fahaheel; Mangaf; Adailiya Block 1; Salmiya blocks 2, 3, 9, 10, and 12; Jleeb Al- Shuyoukh blocks 1, 2, and 3; Khaitan Block 4; Hawally blocks 3, 7, and 9; Sabah Al-Salem blocks 1 and 9; Funaitees blocks 1, 2, 5, and 8; Al Qairawan blocks 2 and 3; Granada Blocks 2 and 3; Al Omariya Block 1; Bneid Al Qar blocks 1 and 2; Sabah Al Nasser blocks 3, 5, and 6; Andalus Block 13; Al Daiya Block 2; Jaber Al-Ahmad Block 7. The ministry has urged residents in the affected areas to take the necessary precautions.

Furthermore, sources confirmed that the ministry obtained approval from the State Audit Bureau (SAB) on Wednesday to directly contract with the GCCIA for the construction of two overhead power lines from the new Wafra station to the Sabah Al-Ahmad 3Z stations at a total cost of KD25.801 million. Sources explained this contract is made possible through the coordinated efforts of the GCCIA and member states to modernize the electricity grid to ensure it operates efficiently to be fully capable of meeting the power needs of the nation. Sources disclosed that the new overhead lines planned for construction will enable the transmission of electricity, especially during the summer months and to meet the increased demand for electricity from the new Wafra station.

Sources stated that the Wafra station will increase the electricity production of GCCIA by 2,500 megawatts; enabling Kuwait to benefit from this production to bridge the gap and shortage in electricity supply during summer, as the case this summer when the Kuwaiti grid imports large quantities of energy over a six-month period -- from March to September. In addition, sources said the ministry also obtained the approval of SAB to sign a contract for the maintenance of street lighting equipment in Farwaniya Governorate at a total cost of KD1.2 billion for a period of 36 months. During this period, the Electrical Installations Department in the minis-try will refurbish the lighting equipment and replace the worn-out ones to improve their ability to withstand climatic conditions. Sources affirmed the ministry is currently taking steps to float a similar tender through the Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT) for the maintenance of lighting equipment in Ahmadi Governorate and is awaiting the bureau’s completion of the procedures. Sources added the tender will be referred to SAB for approval and then a contract will be signed with the winning contractor.

By Mohammad Ghanem Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff