Bill to privatize Kuwait's MEW postponed

KUWAIT CITY - Minister of Oil and Minister of Electricity and Water Dr Khalid Al-Fadhel affirmed that the draft law for establishing Electricity and Water Corporation, which is aimed at privatization of the electricity sector, will not be ready in the current Cabinet, and therefore will not be presented to the current Parliament as well, reports Al-Anba daily.

In a press statement, Dr Al-Fadhel said the issue needs a comprehensive and thorough study in all aspects, including rights of the states and citizens, and the mechanism for implementing the sector’s privatization program, as well as study the extent of the desired benefits from it.

He stressed that expert advisors are still studying the project from its multiple facets in order to set specific and clear mechanisms that guarantee the achievement of the goals that the state seeks from it in order to achieve the development requirements that the government seeks in all its sectors, in addition to ensuring quality in the services provided to citizens and residents. The minister said, “It is not acceptable to enter a project like this without examining all its negative and positive aspects”.

He affirmed that the project for transforming Ministry of Electricity and Water into a company will not come out of the ministry or the government unless it is clear in its legal aspects and organizational structures, and draws the executive steps in dealing with the basic and secondary aspects, and even employees and ensuring their rights.