MEW bags expat debts at Kuwait airport
KUWAIT CITY, Dec 24: As the year 2023 draws to a close, Al-Seyassah reflects on the achievements and challenges faced by the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) over the past twelve months. Despite encountering numerous failures, the Ministry experienced successes amid obstacles such as job instability among long-standing leaders and supervisors.
The primary failures include the extended documentary cycle, insufficient budgets for crucial projects like the construction of new power and water stations, and delays in implementing projects planned for years. To address energy needs, the Ministry allocated 30 million dinars to purchase energy from Gulf Cooperation Council countries and sought approval to contract with an international private sector company for emergency electrical energy. On a positive note, the Ministry established an office at the airport to collect debts from expatriates before their departure, resulting in a significant increase in debt collection.
Despite challenges, the Ministry managed a successful summer without resorting to purchasing energy from external sources, considering it an accomplishment for the current year, even with potential crises anticipated in 2024 and 2025. The Ministry faced challenges in initiating a renewable energy project, particularly the installation of photovoltaic panels on its facilities. Despite having more than 17 planned projects, none materialized, raising concerns given the smaller scale of production compared to major projects like ‘Al-Shaqaya’ exceeding 1,000 megawatts. Notable failures include a widespread outage in eight regions on September 9th due to a fire at the main transfer station in Hawalli and network malfunctions throughout the year. However, the Ministry successfully opened two consumer affairs offices in Sabah Al-Ahmad Residential City and West Abdullah Al- Mubarak, enhancing service accessibility for consumers.
By Mohammad Ghanem
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
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