Kuwaiti authorities have approved plans to tender the first phase of the 3,600 MW Nuwaiseeb power and water project as an independent water and power producer (IWPP), marking a major step forward in the country’s energy and water infrastructure development, reports MEED.
The approval authorises the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP) to launch a tender process for the project’s first phase under a public-private partnership model. The scheme is expected to include combined-cycle gas turbine power generation, water desalination and associated infrastructure.
The Nuwaiseeb plant is among Kuwait’s largest planned facilities of its kind. The 3,600 MW capacity is intended to help meet rising power and water demand, driven by population growth and increasing climate pressures. According to project documentation, construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with commercial operation targeted by 2028 for the first phase.
The decision to bring Nuwaiseeb under the IWPP model reflects Kuwait’s broader adoption of public-private partnerships to deliver major infrastructure projects. Other major schemes under this approach include the Al‑Zour North IWPP and Al‑Khiran IWPP.
The approval comes at a time of increasing demand for electricity and water, placing pressure on the existing power generation and desalination capacity.
