KUWAIT CITY – Kuwait has initiated scheduled power outages across numerous areas as temperatures consistently reach and exceed 50 degrees Celsius, placing immense strain on the nation's electrical grid. The Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy announced the measures to manage the significant increase in electricity demand driven by widespread air conditioning use during the extreme heat. The outages, which can last for hours and occur multiple times a day, have drawn public concern regarding the severe conditions faced by residents.
The decision to implement these cuts comes as the power consumption index has repeatedly entered critical levels, surpassing available generation capacity. Officials have cited both the unprecedented electrical load and ongoing maintenance work on some power generation units as reasons for the outages, emphasizing the need to maintain the overall stability of the national electrical system. This situation highlights the growing challenges faced by infrastructure in regions prone to intense heat waves.
The impact on daily life is profound, with residents experiencing prolonged periods without electricity, rendering air conditioning and even basic fans inoperable. This creates hazardous conditions, especially given that many parts of Europe have seen fatalities in heat waves at temperatures significantly lower than 50°C. Medical experts warn that prolonged exposure to such extreme heat without cooling can lead to severe health issues, including heatstroke, dehydration, and exacerbate pre-existing conditions, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Power grids globally are increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events, including heat waves, which drive up demand while simultaneously stressing infrastructure. Overheating cables, reduced efficiency of thermal power plants, and increased fire risks are common challenges. The recurring outages in Kuwait underscore a broader regional and global trend where climate change is intensifying heat events, pushing existing power infrastructure to its limits and necessitating urgent upgrades and adaptive strategies to ensure public safety and energy reliability.