Kuwait experienced widespread power outages on Sunday as authorities tried to manage the nation’s power grid amid extreme heat and increased demand for energy. The Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy reported that the blackouts affected several areas, including residential neighborhoods, agricultural regions and industrial zones.
The outages were attributed to a technical malfunction in the fuel supply system combined with a surge in power use as temperatures reached 50° Celsius (122° Fahrenheit). The disruptions affected six key industrial zones, three agricultural areas and parts of 31 residential neighborhoods.
Ministry urges residents to reduce electricity consumption
In response to the heatwave and rising energy demand, the ministry has urged residents to reduce electricity consumption, especially during peak consumption times between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The ministry also warned that additional power cuts could be imposed in areas with the highest demand to help stabilize the grid.
Extreme temperatures have led to a heavy reliance on air conditioning, further straining Kuwait’s power system. Officials hope that by controlling power usage, they can prevent more extensive outages and maintain grid stability during the current heatwave.
