Kuwait’s Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy Unveils Measures to Address Sanitary Engineering Challenges.
In a significant stride towards environmental and public health, Kuwait’s Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy, Dr. Jassim Al-Ostad, concurrently Acting Minister of Public Works, declared the successful resolution of the sewage crisis in the Sabah Al-Ahmad region. The initiation of a new sewage pumping station, set in motion on a trial basis this Wednesday, aims to mitigate the challenges faced by residents in the area.
Dr. Al-Ostad underscored the importance of conducting an environmental impact assessment following the station’s activation. This assessment will scrutinize the aftermath of the sewage crisis in Sabah Al-Ahmad, including evaluating environmental damage, addressing state infrastructure shortcomings, and conducting a comprehensive health study on sewage and treated water. The overarching objective is to establish a healthy environment in compliance with international health standards, as reported by Al-Rai daily.
Acknowledging the need for structural reforms within the Ministry’s sanitary engineering sector, Dr. Al-Ostad drew attention to the existing lack of necessary capabilities that contributed to the crisis. Ongoing efforts are directed at identifying the reasons for the delay in the South Al-Mutla’a sewage station, with the aim of preventing a recurrence of the Sabah Al-Ahmad city scenario.
Dr. Al-Ostad emphasized the pivotal role of the Umm Al-Haiman sewage station expansion project in the country’s development plan. This ambitious initiative, with an estimated cost of 1.5 billion dinars, serves the areas of Al-Ahmadi and Mubarak Al-Kabeer governorates and boasts an impressive capacity of 500,000 cubic meters.
During an inspection tour, Dr. Al-Ostad conveyed to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the Umm Al-Haiman station holds crucial importance for utilizing treated water in agriculture, cosmetic agriculture, and meeting the Kuwait Oil Company’s water needs. Executed in collaboration with the PPP Authority, a German company, and a Kuwaiti specialized company, the project also aims to harness methane gas from treatment plants for energy generation.
Revealing the ownership structure, Dr. Al-Ostad explained that the state holds 60% of the company’s shares, with 50% open for citizen subscription and 10% allocated to the government through the Kuwait Investment Authority. The remaining 40% is owned by the Umm Al-Hayman Water Treatment Company.
As Kuwait takes decisive steps to address the sewage crisis in Sabah Al-Ahmad and fortify its sanitary engineering capabilities, the successful operation of the new pumping station and the ongoing Umm Al-Haiman project mark a turning point in the nation’s commitment to environmental sustainability and public health.
