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.

** Solar: Average direct normal irradiance (DNI) kWh/m2 per year. Wind: Annual average m/s

Sources: 1. Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), Annual Statistical Report, 2015.

2. Alhajraf, S. and O. Heil, 2011. Feasibility study of renewable energy technologies for power generation in the State of Kuwait. Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, KISR 10673, Kuwait.

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: 1. Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), Annual Statistical Report, 2015.

2. Kuwait Statistics, International Energy Agency (IEA), (https://www.iea.org/statistics/statisticssearch/report/?year=1990&country=KUWAIT&product=Balances)

Most of the energy sector is owned by the state. The exploration, production, refining, and 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 and has annual average growth of 4.5% for the last 15 years. Kuwait government 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 nuclear option is not considered in the foreseeable future.

The electricity power system is a vertically integrated structure which is owned and operated by a governmental organization, which is the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW). The system is solely dependent on oil and gas fuels to generate electricity and produce potable water. The oil (and products) and gas are provided by a state owned company, which is 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 close to 16.0 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. Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), Annual Statistical Report, 2015.

2. Statistical Year Book - Electrical Energy, 2011, Ministry of Electricity and Water, Kuwait

Table 6. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS.

*Net import / Total energy consumption

Source: 1. Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), Annual Statistical Report, 2015.

2. Statistical Year Book - Electrical Energy, 2011, Ministry of Electricity and Water, 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 a national nuclear program. As part of the efforts undertaken in the second attempt an economic feasibility and siting survey studies were carried out, a first draft of nuclear law, international agreements were signed with France, Jordan, USA, and Japan, and about 30 students were sponsored to pursue abroad Bachelor and Master degrees in nuclear science and engineering. The policy on utilization of nuclear energy in Kuwait had shifted after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in Japan in March 2011An Amiri decree was issued in July 2011to cancel the Kuwait nuclear program for power generation. The Amiri decree transfers KNNEC's program to Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR). Accordingly, KISR has adjusted the originally assigned goal of the program to fit its R&D mandate.

Recently, KISR developed a long range plan setting the strategic research directions for the period up to 2030. With regard to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the focus is on capacity building to support the sustainable development of relevant nuclear techniques and applications, and their integration in relevant research programs at KISR’s Centers, in addition to activities related to environmental monitoring, protection and radiation safety, including nuclear & radiological emergency and preparedness, and study of environmental related issues involving monitoring and assessment of radioactive sites and materials under KISR’s Crisis Decision Support Program.

1. Current organizational chart

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.

The main R&D institutions in the country are KISR and Kuwait University (KU).

Not applicable.

KISR participates actively in the IAEA Technical Cooperation (TC) program. Through the TC program, efforts are being deployed to build and sustain human and institutional capacity to safely utilize nuclear technologies to address local needs, global issues and contribute to national socio-economic development.

The current portfolio of projects under the TC program, which is in line with the strategic planning of the Country Program Framework (CPF) signed by the Government and the IAEA for the period 2014-2019, covers a wide spectrum of applications of radiation and nuclear technology ranging from food and agriculture, management of groundwater resources, industrial applications, to marine environment, and environmental radioactivity monitoring.

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 in the area of nuclear applications for power generation. After the cancellation of the Kuwait nuclear program in July 2011, there have been attempts to utilize the Kuwait-USA MOC to support R&D and training activities. Discussions have been carried out to explore such opportunities.

Emphasis is being placed at the policy and operational levels on the imperative of developing an adequate national legal and regulatory infrastructure in compliance with international standards, including building a national emergency response capacity and setting up and sustaining an efficient system for nuclear security to ensure the safe and secure use of nuclear technologies as viable tools of scientific advancement and socio-economic development in Kuwait. In this context, special attention is being attached to the opportunities offered by the regional cooperation mechanism under the IAEA TC Program in particular to work with nuclear regulatory authorities in other countries of the Asia and the Pacific region towards the further strengthening the national technical capacities for occupational exposure control, legislative and safety infrastructures, and occupational radiation protection.

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) Conduct 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.