KUWAIT CITY, April 27: The illegal cryptocurrency mining activities in Kuwait are beginning to show their effects, with a significant decrease in electricity consumption in the Wafra area. The Ministry of Interior has issued a stern warning to violators, emphasizing that they will not be able to evade detection for long, and it is only a matter of time before they are apprehended.

The Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy reported that a joint campaign targeting cryptocurrency mining in the Wafra residential area had led to a notable drop in the electrical load supplied by the area's main transformer stations. The load decreased from 85 megawatts to 36 megawatts, a reduction of nearly 60%, despite the ongoing rise in temperatures.

This reduction in consumption is expected to save the ministry approximately 15 million dinars annually in electricity production costs.

The news comes a day after a large-scale operation led by the Ministry of Interior, which resulted in the confiscation of sophisticated equipment used for cryptocurrency mining. The campaign was spearheaded by Acting Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, with participation from Minister of Electricity Dr. Subaih Al-Mukhaizeem, Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Housing Affairs Abdullatif Al-Mishari, and Minister of State for Communications Affairs Omar Al-Omar.

Brigadier General Sunaitan Al-Mutairi, Director of the Ministry of Interior's Anti-Money Laundering Crimes Department, clarified that cryptocurrency mining is a violation of the law in Kuwait. "There is no industrial license for mining in Kuwait, and no profession can be practiced in the country without a valid license," he said. Al-Mutairi emphasized that such activities cause excessive energy depletion and increased electrical loads, adding, "We will remain vigilant for anyone attempting to engage in this illegal activity. No one can escape our attention, and it is only a matter of time before they are caught."