Kuwait Targets 15% Renewable Energy Sources By 2030

Kuwait aims to generate 15 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by the year 2030, as it seeks to cut back on its oil consumption.

The Gulf state has one of the highest energy consumption rates per capita in the world, with the average Kuwaiti using 22 times more resources than the country provides per person.

Experts believe the country will need 20 per cent of its oil production capacity just for energy generation within four years, a consumption rate deemed unsustainable given that two thirds of the country’s GDP is dependent on the oil industry.

The news comes one week before the Kuwait Energy and Efficiency Conference, when senior government officials meet with policymakers to plan a ‘national energy efficiency strategy’.

Dr. Mershan Al-Otaibi, assistant undersecretary for planning and training, Ministry of Electricity and Water, Kuwait, said: “We are analysing Kuwait’s energy consumption trends and developing measures to attain energy efficiency as a key platform of governance for Kuwait’s long-term economic development goals.

“This conference will be a critical step in formulating policies and initiatives that will help us attain sustainable energy practices.”

Kuwait’s increasing energy consumption has been put down to a number of factors, including heavily subsidised electricity prices, an increase in the expat population, a rise in economic activity and an increase in the use of modern conveniences.