KUWAIT CITY, Dec 25: A report from the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy has predicted that peak power loads will rise next summer to 18,569 megawatts, an increase of approximately 1,000 megawatts from the current year's peak load of 17,640 megawatts. Despite this anticipated rise, informed sources have reassured the public that the ministry will avoid scheduled power cuts, except in cases where production units go offline. According to these sources, the Ministry of Electricity is taking proactive measures this winter to ensure that all units at various power generation stations are fully prepared for the upcoming summer, thus preventing the need for scheduled outages.

As winter ends and summer approaches, temperatures in Kuwait are expected to reach up to 50°C, and in some areas, even exceed that mark. This extreme heat will increase the electricity demand, creating a challenge for the Ministry of Electricity and Water. The expected peak loads for the summer of 2025 are projected to reach 18,569 megawatts, which is 1,000 megawatts more than the current year, even though the installed energy capacity in 2023 reached over 20,250 megawatts.

Sources within the ministry explained that the power crisis last summer was caused by some production units going out of service as temperatures soared above 50°C, leading to an increase in load demand. To address this, the ministry had to implement programmed power cuts. However, officials emphasized that this summer's power generation will be bolstered by necessary maintenance and preparation, with units set to be ready for the increased demand. This effort aims to prevent any reliance on scheduled outages, as occurred last summer.

The Ministry of Electricity has also provided a report indicating that by 2026, the energy demand could reach 19,441 megawatts, an increase of 872 megawatts from the forecasted demand for the following year. This rise is attributed to factors such as population growth, as well as urban and infrastructure expansion within the country.

In response to these growing energy needs, the ministry has been actively working on securing additional energy imports. They are in discussions to increase the energy imported from the Gulf Interconnection from 700 megawatts to 1,000 megawatts during the summer months. Additionally, the ministry is exploring several unconventional solutions to meet the rising demand and is finalizing contracts aimed at boosting both energy and water production in the coming years.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Electricity has outlined plans for more than seven new projects at power stations, which will contribute over 13,700 megawatts to the country’s energy and water production capacity in the near future. These efforts are part of the broader strategy to ensure the country’s energy needs are met without relying on power cuts, while addressing challenges presented by growing demand and extreme summer temperatures.