KUWAIT: The Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP) has signed contracts with Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power and the Gulf Investment Corporation for phases two and three of the Al-Zour North power plant, a project worth over 1 billion Kuwaiti dinars (\$3.27 billion).
KAPP Director General Asmaa Al-Mousa told Reuters that the investment cost will be borne entirely by the private partners, not the government. The expansion marks one of Kuwait’s largest electricity projects, aimed at easing chronic power shortages.
Once completed in three years, Al-Zour North will add 2.7 gigawatts of power generation and 120 million gallons of desalinated water per day, using combined-cycle technology.
Adel Al-Zamel, undersecretary at the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, said Kuwait anticipates significant improvements in electricity supply as several major projects — including a large-scale partnership with China — come online.
The country has faced rolling blackouts since last year to manage demand. By 2028, Al-Zamel said, the situation should markedly improve. Kuwait also plans to sign an implementation agreement with China in early 2026 for phases three and four of the Shagaya renewable energy project, which will add 3.2 GW of capacity.
By Reuters
