KUWAIT: The population increase in Kuwait has resulted in increased power consumption rates, more pressure on medical facilities , and more pressure on public schools. This requires that prompt steps be taken in order to match with the demands of population growth. The Ministry of Electricity and Water(MEW)has indicated that there is an annual 10 percentage increase in power consumption due to population growth. The government body has launched programs to improve power networks and establish new power pla
nts, said Assistant Undersecretary for Planning and Training Dr Meshaan Al-Otaibi.

He further noted that the project to connect power networks between Gulf nations will help support and stabilize the country's network, reported Al-Watan.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health(MoH) plans to launch a project according to which a polyclinic will be built in each new residential area, said Head of the Medical Care Central Department Dr Layla Al- Dousari.

He added that there are 88 such polyclinics currently located across the country, equipped with 49 laboratories; each one serving an approximate 39,000 people. On the other hand, Al-Dousari noted that 560,000 public employees were granted sick leaves in 2008; 90 percent of which were granted to citizens.
Moving to the Ministry of Education(MoE), a plan has been charted out to build 151 new schools for different educational stages within seven years, at a total cost of KD 350 million.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) has contacted the Central Tenders Committee (CTC) to officially announce the tender for the construction of the northern Zour power plant. The new plant, which will have the capacity to provide an additional 3,000 megawatts of power, along with 100 million imperial gallons of fresh water daily, is one of the projects listed in the cabinet's new development plan.

The preliminary meeting for discussion of the tender has been set for April 18, with May 3 set as the deadline for six local and international companies to present their bids.

The new plant, which will operate using dual-purpose gas turbine technology, will be built in five phases: the first two of these will provide 3,000 megawatts of power, the third will provide 800 megawatts, and the fourth will provide a further 1,000 megawatts, while the fifth phase will be concerned with the construction of water desalination facilities providing approximately 100 million imperial gallons daily. - Kuwait Times