KUWAIT CITY, Sept 10: The load index reached the red zone yesterday, recording 16,406 megawatts due to high temperatures and increased electricity consumption. Due to this situation, the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy announced that it would implement rolling power cuts in some non-residential areas.

This measure is aimed at preserving the stability of the country’s electricity system, as emergency maintenance is being carried out on some electricity generation units. The residential areas affected by the power cuts include Abdullah Al-Mubarak, Farwaniya, Sabah Al- Ahmad, Naseem, Jahra, Jabriya, Nahda, Andalus, Sulaibikhat, Shuwaikh Residential, and Shamiya. Informed sources from the ministry explained that two units at the Subiya and South Zour stations, with a combined production capacity of 590 megawatts, were taken offline for emergency maintenance.

This action was necessitated by the noticeable rise in temperatures, which approached 50 degrees Celsius. As a result, the ministry implemented programmed power cuts in parts of 13 areas of various governorates. It is important to continue implementing energy conservation measures, particularly during the peak hours from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, and focusing on reducing air conditioner usage, as it accounts for 70 percent of energy consumption.

It is advised to set air conditioners at 23°C instead of 18°C to help manage energy use more effectively. Also, the rationalization policy should be applied to government agencies and their buildings, which consume large amounts of electricity during official working hours. Electricity use should be minimized in areas that are unoccupied or crowded with visitors and employees. The sources urged the need to expedite the tendering processes for energy projects and remove all the challenges and bureaucratic obstacles they encounter, adding that this will ensure that projects are completed in both the short and long term. They highlighted that the current crisis is attributed to a lack of productivity, which has led the ministry to rely on energy imports from the Gulf network and other temporary solutions.

By Mohammad Ghanem

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times