Kuwait enforces power outages amid heatwave, energy surge

KUWAIT CITY, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) — Kuwaiti authorities enforced widespread power outages on Sunday, affecting residential, agricultural, and industrial areas as they sought to stabilize the electrical grid amid rising temperatures and heavy energy consumption.
The outages were implemented amid a surge in energy demand coupled with a technical malfunction related to fuel supplies, according to the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy. The disruptions impacted six major industrial zones, three agricultural areas, and parts of 31 residential neighborhoods.
The outages coincide with temperatures nearing 50 degrees Celsius, which have driven up electricity consumption as residents rely heavily on air conditioning.
The Ministry has urged residents to reduce electricity use, particularly during peak hours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Authorities may continue to implement power cuts in high-demand areas to ensure grid stability, the ministry warned. ■