KUWAIT CITY, Aug 27: The Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy was on high alert yesterday as the load index surged to 17,180, nearing the danger zone due to the extreme temperatures recorded at various measuring stations.

A ministry official informed Al-Rai that the rising temperatures, which reached up to 50 degrees Celsius in some areas, led to increased electricity consumption during peak hours. This surge prompted the ministry to announce through its electronic platforms the possibility of cutting off electricity to parts of non-residential areas as a precautionary measure.

The official added that with temperatures expected to remain high, reaching between 49 and 50 degrees Celsius today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday), the state of alert will continue until the end of this heat wave, which meteorologists predict will be the last of the summer.

Yesterday, the ministry managed to alleviate some of the load by cutting power to farms in Al-Wafra and Al-Abdali for three hours. The official also noted that the recent reactivation of the Subiya units, which had been shut down last week, helped boost the ministry’s production capacity.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy, Dr. Mahmoud Bushehri, held discussions with the ministry’s workers’ group to address pending demands and explore ways to overcome the challenges faced by the workers.