KUWAIT CITY, Feb 8: The Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy has announced that maintenance work will be carried out on several power transformer stations across the six governorates, reports Al-Seyassah daily. As a result, 26 areas will experience partial power outages, including the Al-Sabah Health Area. The power outage will last for seven days, starting Sunday, February 9, until February 15, from 8:00 am for four hours each day. In other news, the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy signed last Monday a memorandum of understanding with a company to establish a 300-megawatt power generation station under the ‘independent supplier’ system.

This marks the first agreement of its kind in Kuwait, allowing the private sector to play a role in energy production and easing the financial burden on the state. However, the agreement has raised concerns among some experts regarding the potential future control of electricity and water pricing by the private sector. Despite these concerns, there has been positive feedback from experts like former Minister of Electricity and Water Mohammad Bushehri.

He highlighted the economic benefits of involving independent suppliers in energy production, such as reducing state expenditures on building power stations and ensuring quicker implementation of projects. Renewable energy expert Suad Al-Hussein emphasized the importance of the independent supplier system, particularly for solar energy. She argued that accelerating the approval of the energy purchase law from independent solar energy providers could positively impact the labor market, creating new job opportunities in electrical engineering and renewable energy sectors. Both experts emphasized the importance of ensuring the involvement of the private sector is aligned with clear legal and regulatory frameworks, in line with Kuwait’s development plans and Vision 2035.

Scheduled Power Outages

Duration: 4 hours (from 8:00 AM onwards)

Affected Areas & Substations:

Mahboula – Substation S/S-139

Dasma – Substation F-3

Sabah Health Region – Substation 35

Qortuba – Substation 2-3

Salwa – Substation 79-11

Hawalli – Substation 55-6

Saad Al-Abdulla – Substation 013-1

Oyoun – Substation 051-4

Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah – Substations 184-1, 180-1

Duration: 4 hours (from 8:00 AM onwards)

Affected Areas & Substations:

Sabah Al-Ahmad – Substation S/S-D42

Fahaheel – Substation S/S-113

Mahboula – Substation S/S-95036283

Al-Siddiq – Substation 80A-7

Salmiya – Substation 69OLD-7

Sabah Al-Salem – Substation 241-1

Saad Al-Abdulla – Substations 147-6, 019-1

Al-Qurain – Substation 32-2

Sabah Al-Nasser – Substations 112-4, 030-3

Duration: 4 hours (from 8:00 AM onwards)

Affected Areas & Substations:

Sabah Al-Ahmad – Substation S/S-D62

Fahaheel – Substation S/S-48

Mahboula – Substation S/S-89

Al-Siddiq – Substation 83-7

Salwa – Substation 31-6

Daiya – Substation I 14-4

Sabah Health Region – Substation 56

Al-Adan – Substation 48-2

Jahra – Substation 025-3

Saad Al-Abdulla – Substation 123-5

Al-Qurain – Substation 35-2

Sabah Al-Nasser – Substations 031-3, 129-6

Duration: 4 hours (from 8:00 AM onwards)

Affected Areas & Substations:

Mangaf – Substation 107

Fahaheel – Substation S/S-49

Mahboula – Substation S/S-99

Al-Siddiq – Substation 84-7

Salwa – Substation 41-1

Khaldiya – Substation 1-1

Sabah Health Region – Substation 78

Sabah Al-Salem – Substation 250-2

Nasseem – Substation 041-4

Saad Al-Abdulla – Substation 181-10

Al-Qurain – Substation 48-3

Sabah Al-Nasser – Substations 032-3, 153-7

Duration: 4 hours (from 8:00 AM onwards)

Affected Areas & Substations:

Mangaf – Substation 066

Fahaheel – Substation S/S-59

Mahboula – Substation S/S-101

Al-Siddiq – Substation 85B-7

Rumaithiya – Substation 42-10

Hitteen – Substation 45-2

Khaldiya – Substation 16-1

Sabah Health Region – Substation 49

Sabah Al-Salem – Substation 251-3

Nasseem – Substation 042-4

Saad Al-Abdulla – Substation 191-10

Al-Qurain – Substation 50-3

Sabah Al-Nasser – Substations 033-3, 157-7

By Mohammed Ghanem

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff and Agencies