KUWAIT CITY, July 15: The Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy has signed a contract with STC for the supply of 500,000 smart electricity meters. Sources from the ministry said that the supply contracts will enable the Customer Affairs Sector at the ministry to collect payments for outstanding electricity bills in a more precise manner compared to the past, when such payments were calculated through a manual accounting method and mechanical meters that do not have any electronic specifications.

Sources explained that the ministry will cover all types of housing, including private, industrial, commercial and investment; indicating this is a qualitative leap towards the digital transformation that the government has been keen on achieving. Sources confirmed that the meters’ specifications will enable customers to control electricity consumption in real-time; especially during the summer period, which contributes to supporting rationalization efforts. In a related development, sources revealed that the ministry recently formed a committee whose members are from the concerned government agencies, including Kuwait University and the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET), to find the best way to offer a tender for the supply of 200,000 smart water meters; which the ministry had earlier planned to offer along with the tender for 500,000 smart electricity meters.

On the other hand, Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Dr. Mahmoud Bushahri had a meeting with the chief executive officer (CEO) of State Power Investment Corporation Limited (SPIC) and Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the Middle East and North Africa Ma Shao. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral relations and cooperation in the field of energy between the State of Kuwait and China; as well as ways to strengthen these relations. They also talked about renewable energy projects and some applicable quick solutions to enhance electrical energy production for the summer of 2025.

By Mohammad Ghanem
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff