The Kuwait Public Private Partnership Project Authority (KAPP) and the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy have recently issued a tender announcement for the Al Khairan 1 Independent Hydroelectric Project (IWPP), located south of Kuwait City and near the Az Zour South complex. The project is developed using a Build Own Operate Transfer (BOOT) model, with a planned installed capacity of 1800 MW and a seawater desalination capacity of 125 MIGD. This facility is one of the key projects in Kuwait's efforts to promote electricity and water security. Once completed, it will become part of a multi phase complex, with a total expected long-term capacity of 5400 MW of electricity and 125 MIGD of fresh water.

This project is one of the 7-8 key PPP projects that KAPP plans to launch in the near future. Currently, Kuwait is accelerating the progress of multiple renewable energy projects, including Shagaya and Dabdaba, and conducting feasibility assessments on more potential projects.

Previously, KAPP had signed a 25 year power and water purchase agreement with Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power and Kuwait's GIC consortium for Az Zour North Phase II and III IWPP, with a total investment of over 4 billion US dollars and a production capacity of 2700 MW of electricity and 120 MIGD seawater desalination. The rapid progress of the Al Khairan project further demonstrates Kuwait's continued acceleration in investment in the energy and water sectors.

From a strategic perspective, Kuwait is integrating private capital through various models such as BOOT and PPP to strengthen the long-term supply capacity of electricity and freshwater infrastructure. Regional cooperation is also showing a strengthening trend, and the cooperation model between Saudi capital and local Kuwaiti funds is expected to be reproduced in the Al Khairan project.

This project also brings potential opportunities for Chinese enterprises. Given its large scale, BOOT model, and long-term power and water purchase agreement structure, Chinese EPC companies, equipment manufacturers, and financing institutions are expected to participate.

Overall, the synergy between Al Khairan and Az Zour projects, coupled with the advancement of renewable energy projects such as Shagaya, indicates that Kuwait is actively promoting energy structure diversification and water security strategies, continuously enhancing its influence in the electricity and water markets of the Middle East Gulf region. editor/Yang Beihua