IN my recent article, I wrote “The carpenter’s door is always broken”. This saying perfectly applies to several sectors, most notably the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy. Despite Kuwait enjoying year-round sunshine, the country fails to harness solar energy for electricity generation and instead burns thousands of barrels of crude oil daily to produce electricity. Since the 1960s, Kuwait has been suffering from recurring power crises and blackouts every summer. Does this make any sense? Wouldn’t it be more logical to find a sustainable solution rather than simply accept this ongoing dilemma? Before each summer every year, discussions about solving this problem resurface. Yet, the scorching heat comes and goes with no real improvement, and thus the same old situation repeats itself. We keep hearing the same excuses such as interference from MPs, vested interests, influential figures, and the instability of the ministerial post, as if the minister, a holder of the political position, is the one personally “switching on the electricity”, or the large workforce at the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy plays no role, or they simply wait around for the minister’s directives.
Years ago, the ministry’s name was changed to include “Renewable Energy,” yet no one has seen any sign of that energy, or renewal. What we have seen instead is the same ongoing crisis. While it is true that political stability at the ministerial level matters, it is not the root cause of the problems in a service-oriented ministry with a clear and specific mandate. Since 1991, 25 ministers have taken the helm of the ministry, with some serving for just a month or two. In other countries, does work come to a halt every time leadership changes? Or is there a stable, well-established system in place? Even during times of war, there are no power cuts because maintenance and operations continue around the clock. That’s why electricity in these countries remains uninterrupted, even amid crises. Power outages are not a concern in countries like the UK, the United States, or even in smaller nations such as the Comoros and Bahrain. On the other hand, some countries like Iraq and Syria experience power outages for obvious reasons, primarily security issues. In places like Lebanon and Somalia, the issue stems from corruption, political quotas, and senseless conflicts. So, what exactly is the reason behind Kuwait’s persistent electricity problem? Yes, it is a valid question every citizen has the right to ask. Why does Kuwait continue to face this crisis year after year? Is it because of influential figures or MPs? Today, there is no National Assembly for the ministry to use as an excuse.
The government holds both legislative and executive powers. There is no one left for the government to clash with or blame. Tenders are fully under its control, and ministerial positions have been stabilized. So what excuses are left for the government to hide behind? Have things become so entangled that no official is even considering a practical solution, let alone working to implement one? Isn’t there anyone willing to learn from other countries that have successfully entrusted production, maintenance, and bill collection to specialized companies? Why don’t we see power outages in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, or Qatar? Isn’t it painfully obvious that the root of this issue is poor management? In many countries, even those with limited resources, their governments have started generating electricity from solar energy and have facilitated the procedures for their citizens to obtain it. So why isn’t solar energy widely available to everyone in Kuwait? Why can’t owners of large and small homes and residential buildings use it for lighting, heating water, and running air conditioners for free, while conserving crude oil and gas for export instead? The solution is simple. It requires nothing but strong will, sound decision- making, and a bit of common sense to tackle a chronic issue. I stress once again that the answer lies in studying the experiences of neighboring countries, as well as those in Europe and even Africa. As the old saying goes, “Your knowledge is your capital, and your number one enemy is ignorance.” There is no shame in learning from others’ experiences.
By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
