|
Power consumption levels 'highest in Kuwait history' |
|
Tuesday, 08 June 2010 15:38 |
|
KUWAIT: The Ministry of Electricity and Water has been making a concerted effort these days to prevent a power crisis from occurring in the country.
This is after power consumption levels shot up to highest in the history of Kuwait earlier this week.
Readings of gauges at the control tower this past Sunday indicated that consumption rates have reached 10,280 megawatts, entering the danger zone of consumption while the country's plants generate power that touches 11,200 megawatts.
Minister Dr Badr Al-Shuraian indicated during a tour conducted at the control tower, the situation would be monitored closely so that consumption rates could soon reach as much as 10,700 megawatts. This places the country on the verge of a major power shortage crisis that will surely take place should any unit of the country's power plants go out of service.
However, the minister has assured that the ministry would not resort to a scheduled power disconnection plan, revealing measures that have been set to counter the overload which has been made available through a 500 megawatts reserve that has been set aside for cases of emergency.
Moreover, Al-Shuraian pointed out that this summer's challenge will be the last one to be faced. The inauguration of the first stage of the Subbiya plant next year will help the ministry tackle all the power overload in the summer of 2011. The first stage will add 1,300 megawatts to the country's power production levels, reported Al-Qabas.
In the meantime, power cuts had reportedly taken place at several locations across the country in the wake of unprecedented overload rates mainly present in Al-Rehab, Abdullah Al-Salem, Al-Qasr and some blocs in Al-Jahra. - Kuwait Times
|
