The first edition of the Kuwait Energy Outlook (KEO), the first of its kind in the Gulf region, has put forward recommendations to create a more sustainable, energy-efficient and diversified economy and society in Kuwait.
The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) yesterday (May 5) celebrated the successful conclusion of the publication and subsequent capacity building programme of the first edition of the report, which presents ground-breaking analysis to predict and plan for Kuwait’s energy future.
The inaugural KEO highlights and analyses three main challenges Kuwait is facing in ensuring prosperity for future generations: the need to diversify the country’s oil-dependent economy, stimulate efficient energy usage, and further develop renewable energy sources.
The closure event celebrated the report’s major achievements so far, including the successful publication of the first ever KEO, supported by a gender-balanced team working out of a dedicated space; the strengthening of institutional capacity in Kuwait through intensive training programmes supported by the UNDP and partnerships with international bodies including the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI); and the improved collaboration between Kuwait’s key energy players, including the establishment of an editorial committee from seven government institutions to oversee the production of future editions.
The event welcomed high-level individuals to mark the momentous occasion, including representatives from Kuwait’s energy industry, Ministries and Embassies, as well as representatives of KISR’s Energy and Building Research Center (EBRC), the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development (GSSCPD) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which all contributed to the first edition of the KEO.
Dr Samira A S Omar, director general of KISR, said: “Our ambition at its founding was to be at the forefront of energy reform in the country, guiding and offering solutions to one of Kuwait’s most challenging industries.”
“Going forward, the Kuwait Energy Outlook will play an essential role in increasing collaboration between government entities on energy-related issues and upskilling Kuwait’s energy professionals as we work towards creating a more sustainable Kuwait,” she said.
Dr Khaled Mahdi, secretary general of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development (GSSCPD), said: “Kuwait is leading the region in mapping out a sustainable, diversified energy future based on an evidence-based analysis such as KEO. Adhering to the recommendations as set out in the report will further increase Kuwait’s global competitiveness, benefiting generations to come.”
Khaled Shahwan, UNDP deputy resident representative, said: “We are supporting Kuwait on its journey to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals. Through the first Energy Outlook in the region, Kuwait has taken a major step forward with regards to its socio-economic and environmental development plans.”
KISR has established the Kuwait Energy Policy Team, which has been tasked with the creation of future editions of the report that will likely be published every three years going forward.
These Energy Outlooks will be presented at dedicated forums that will bring together international and domestic stakeholders to discuss Kuwait’s energy future. In addition, special thematic reports will be released periodically that will provide in-depth analyses of specific energy issues, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service
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