Ministry of Energy was created by merging the
two existing ministries - Ministry of Oil and
Ministry of Electricity and Water when the new
cabinet was formed after the National Assembly
Elections of July 2003.
Prior to this, various issues related to Oil
were handled by the Ministry of Oil. As per
the Amiri Decree
-
The Ministry
of Oil shall be responsible for suggesting
the general policy for the oil and gas
sector and shall follow up on its implementation.
It shall cooperate with the Higher Commission
for Oil in the matters that are within
the responsibilities of the Commission
and shall supervise the execution of its
decisions.
-
The Ministry
of Oil shall supervise all public institutions
and authorities that are related to the
oil sector and shall exercise the State's
rights in those institutions.
The Ministry
of Oil shall establish and develop relationships
with foreign public institutions and authorities
that are related to the oil sector.
Electricity and Water issues were handled
by the Ministry of Electricity and Water.
An ordinance issued by HH the Amir on January
7, 1979, states:
"The Ministry of Electricity and Water
will take over the provision of power and
water, transportation and distribution for
production and consumption purposes."
Electric power first came into Kuwait in 1913
when an agreement was signed by Sheikh Mubarak
Al-Sabah for electrification of Seif Palace
at the cost of Rs 7,000 (Kuwait used Indian
Rupees as its currency at that time).
The first power plant in Kuwait was established
in 1934 by National Power Company. The Government
bought stakes in National Power Company in
1951 and accordingly a Ministry for Electricity
and Water was instituted.
Today Kuwait is covered by electrical nets,
aerial of underground, which are used to transport
electricity from power plants to transformation
centres and to the consumers.
