Authorities in Kuwait have been forced to implement rolling blackouts in several regions of the country as the energy infrastructure struggles to cope with the increased demand caused by extreme heat.
The Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy announced on Wednesday that the outages will last from one to two hours daily. The ministry also urged consumers to limit electricity use during peak hours. The following day, the ministry issued a notice listing the capital areas and towns where rolling blackouts will occur for one to two hours between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM local time (coincides with Moscow time). The list includes about 60 areas, most of which are located in the capital.
Kuwait ranks sixth in the world for proven oil reserves. According to OPEC data, as of 2023, Kuwait's oil reserves were estimated at approximately 101.5 billion barrels, or about 6% of the world's total. In 2023, Kuwait's oil production averaged around 2.8 million barrels per day. The country also possesses significant natural gas reserves, which are currently being developed to meet domestic market needs.
However, Kuwait's outdated energy infrastructure is considered one of the most problematic in the Persian Gulf region, where other Arabian monarchies do not resort to rolling blackouts. In recent days, temperatures in Kuwait have reached 51 degrees Celsius, creating conditions under which the infrastructure cannot generate enough electricity to meet demand.
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Based on materials from TASS