Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy that has a directly elected parliament (National Assembly). The head of state is the Amir who is the commander in chief of Kuwait's armed forces and has the authority to appoint the Prime Minister (PM). The PM exercises his authority to form the government cabinet which consists of the state secretaries (Ministers).

The legislative authority is taken by the Amir and the National Assembly, while the executive authority is taken by the Amir and Council of Ministers and Ministers.

The system of government is based on the principle separating the powers of legislative, executive and judicial authorities and functioning in cooperation with each other.

Kuwait lies at the north-west corner of the Arabian Gulf, between 28ºN and 30ºN latitudes and between 46ºE and 48ºE longitudes. To the north and the west, it shares a border of 240 km with the Republic of Iraq, and to the south and south-west it shares 250 km with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On the east it has a coastline of 290 km on the Arabian Gulf.

FIG 1. Map of Kuwait

The total area of Kuwait is 17,818 km². Most of the mainland is a flat sandy desert gradually sloping towards sea level in the east. The western border land areas are 270 m above sea level.

The weather is characterized by long, hot and dry summers and short, warm and sometimes rainy winters. Dust storms occur frequently with a rise in humidity during late summer. Typical extreme temperature ranges between the winter and summer is 0 ºC to 50 ºC.

By the end of 2010, the population is estimated to be 3.566 million of which 32% are nationals and 68% expatriates. About 5 to 6% of Kuwait's total area is inhabited. As a result of the population concentration within 6% of the country's territory and the absence of rural areas, the population density is considered to be high.

TABLE 1. POPULATION INFORMATION

Source: The Public Authority for Civil Information, Kuwait.

TABLE 2. GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP).

N.A.: Not available

* PPP: Purchasing Power Parity

** Latest available data

Sources: 1. Central Bank of Kuwait (www.cbk.gov.kw).

2. International Monetary Fund (http://www.imf.org/)

3. Trading Economics (http://www.tradingeconomics.com)

TABLE 3 shows the reserves of fossil fuels and uranium, and potential renewable energy.

TABLE 3. ESTIMATED AVAILABLE ENERGY SOURCES.

* Solid, Liquid: Million tons; Gas: Billion m³; Uranium: Metric tons; Hydro, Renewable: TW.

** Data Not Available.

Sources: 1. Preliminary Economics Feasibility Study of a Civil Nuclear Program in Kuwait, KNNEC, Kuwait.

2. Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), Annual Statistical Report, 2010.

TABLE 4. ENERGY STATISTICS IN EXAJOULE (EJ).

1 Billion barrel = 5.862 EJ = 0.0371 billion m3

** Energy consumption = Primary energy consumption + Net import (Import - Export) of secondary energy.

*** Solid fuels include coal, lignite

Source: Energy Information Administration (EIA) (http://www.eia.gov).

Most of the energy sector is owned by the state. The exploration, production, refining, marketing of the primary energy resources (oil and gas) are carried out by state owned corporations. Through government organizations, the primary energy resources are converted to useful energy and transmitted and distributed to consumers.

The domestic consumption of the primary energy claims a considerable amount. As a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol, Kuwait has taken the responsibility toward capping emissions. Hence, the government of the State of Kuwait has been exploring alternative energy resources, including nuclear and renewables, for the purpose of sustaining the production of useful energy, maximizing oil revenues and minimizing CO₂, NO_x and SO_x emissions.

The electricity power system is a vertically integrated structure which is owned and operated by a governmental organization, the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW). The system is solely dependent on oil and gas fuel to generate electricity and produce potable water. Fuel oil and gas are provided by a state owned organization, the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC). The main planning driver for the generation and electric network development and enforcement are residential housing and commercial projects.

As mentioned above, the electricity power system is a vertically integrated structure owned and operated by a governmental organization. The current installed capacity is more than 12 GW and it is expected to reach 28 GW by 2030. The electric network consists of five voltage levels, including 400, 275, 132, 33 and 11 kV. The 400 kV network was recently included in the system. The first 400 kV sub-station has been energized since March 2011.

TABLE 5. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION AND CAPACITY.

Source: 1.Statistical Year Book - Electrical Energy, 2011, Ministry of Electricity and Water, Kuwait.

2. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Independent Statistics and Analysis, The State of Kuwait.

Table 6. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS.

*Net import / Total energy consumption

Source: 1.Statistical Year Book - Electrical Energy, 2011, Ministry of Electricity and Water, Kuwait.

2. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Independent Statistics and Analysis, The State of Kuwait.

3. The Public Authority for Civil Information, Kuwait.

The State of Kuwait had two attempts to develop and pursue a nuclear program for electric power generation. The first attempt was in the 1970's in coordination with and support of the IAEA and United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. A request for proposal (RFP) was issued for a 50 MW nuclear reactor for demonstration of power generation. The program was cancelled in early 80's due to the Three Mile Island nuclear accident and the Iraq-Iran war. The second attempt was in 2009 after the rise of oil prices and rapid growth of energy demand in the country. An Amiri decree was issued to form a committee, i.e., the Kuwait National Nuclear Energy Committee (KNNEC), to pave the way toward the development of nuclear program. The progress in the second attempt had accomplished: economic feasibility and siting survey studies, first draft of nuclear law, international agreements (with France, Jordan, USA, Japan), and sponsorship of about 30 students to pursue Bachelor and Master degrees in nuclear science and engineering. After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in Japan in March 2011, an Amiri decree was issued and canceled the Kuwait nuclear program for electric power generation in July 2011. The Amiri decree transfers KNNEC's program to Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR). KISR has modified the original goal of the program to fits its R&D mandates.

Recently, KISR developed a long range strategic plan covering the period up to 2030. Among other programs, KISR has launched the work toward the development of R&D for a nuclear program, i.e., the Nuclear Program for Peaceful Applications (NPPA). One of NPPA's sub-program elements is the establishment of a nuclear research and training facility to support peaceful applications of nuclear methods and techniques in Kuwait.

Not applicable.

TABLE 7. STATUS AND PERFORMANCE OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Table 7 is not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

The main R&D institutes in the country are KISR and Kuwait University (KU). Up to the present time, the R&D activities are limited to radioecological projects.

Not applicable.

KISR is an active member in the IAEA Technical Cooperation (TC) program and working closely toward strengthening the technical capacities for occupational exposure control, legislative and safety infrastructures, occupational radiation protection, nuclear regulatory authorities in the Asia and the Pacific region.

In 2009, Kuwait pledged a US$10 million to the proposed IAEA Fuel Bank, which was approved by IAEA Board in 2010. Kuwait has recently become a member in the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC) and World Nuclear Association (WNA).

Kuwait signed Memoranda of Cooperation and Understanding (MOC and MOU) with USA and France, focusing on information and expertise exchange mainly on the nuclear applications in power generation. After the cancellation of the Kuwait nuclear program in July 2011, there have been attempts to utilize the Kuwait-USA MOC toward R&D and training. Discussions have been carried out to explore these areas.

Since 2010, KNNEC had coordinated with the Ministry of Higher Education to establish a study-abroad scholarship program for Nuclear Science and Engineering at both undergraduate and graduate levels. After the disbanding of KNNEC, KISR has taken the role to follow up with students who have been awarded these scholarships. To date, there are more than 20 student who are pursuing Nuclear Science and Engineering degrees from leading universities in the field.

After the disbanding of KNNEC in July 2011, KISR has taken the role to communicate with the main stakeholders pursuing issues related to environment, safety regulations, and training.

The Radiation Protection Division (RPD) at the Ministry of Health is the regulatory authority that functions to protect and prevent ionizing and non-ionizing radiation and authorize related licenses in Kuwait. RPD’s main responsibilities include: (a) Conduction of periodic inspections of sites with X-ray equipment and radioactive materials and radiation sources, (b) Authorization and license issuance pertaining to the use of radioactive material and related equipment, (c) Calibration of radiation measuring device, (d) Measurement of the concentration of radiation in food, drinking water and other consumables, (e) Monitoring radiation in the environment and measurement of radioactive elements causing environmental pollution, (f) Supervising radioactive waste treatment, safe disposal and control the transport of radioactive materials.

See 3.1.1.

Not applicable.

International Agreements:

Active:

• Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (NCA) with France (Jan 2010)

• Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with Jordan (March 2010)

• Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with Department of Energy, USA (June 2010)

• Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with Japan (September 2010)

• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Russia (September 2010)

Under Discussion:

• Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with UAE

• Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (NCA) with Russia

• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korea

• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UK

Treaties Under Consideration:

• Protocol to amend the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear

• Damage (PVC)

• Joint protocol relating to the application of Vienna Convention and the Paris Convention (JP)

• Joint Convention on the safety of spent fuel management and on the safety of radioactive waste management (RADW)

• Convention on supplementary compensation for nuclear damage (SUPP)

• Co-operative Agreement for Arab States in Asia for research, development, and training related to nuclear science and technology (ARASIA)

• Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (VC)

• Amendment to the Convention of physical protection of nuclear material (CPPNME)

• Ministry of Electricity and Water, www.mew.gov.kw

• Ministry of Public Health, www. moh.gov.kw

• Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, www.kisr.edu.kw

• Kuwait University, www.kuniv.edu

• Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, www.kpc.com.kw