Massive power outages hit over 40 residential areas on Wednesday as temperatures soared to 52°C, causing power consumption to nearly reach dangerous levels. Authorities implemented scheduled cuts because power plants couldn’t meet the high demand during peak hours, which were hotter than in previous years.

The ministry of electricity and water explained that “programmed cuts” lasting one to two hours were necessary to maintain the electricity network’s stability. They urged consumers to reduce power use between 11 am and 5 pm to avoid future cuts. The interior ministry also banned motorcycle deliveries from 11 am to 4 pm from June 23 to the end of August.

The blackouts affected many areas, including parts of Kuwait City, disrupting traffic lights and trapping people in elevators. Police were sent to manage traffic, and motorists were advised to follow their instructions.

The health ministry confirmed that general hospitals, specialized centers, and blood banks were not affected by the outages. Backup generators ensured that medical services in a few primary care centers continued without interruption.

These cuts happened a day after Kuwait began receiving around 400 MW of power from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) power grid, though it had purchased 500 MW. Kuwait has faced power shortages for years, with a current shortfall of 1,331 MW expected to rise in the coming years.

An agreement to import 500 MW from the GCC power grid was signed two weeks ago, but a sudden heatwave caused consumption to exceed production capacity. The issue is likely to continue for at least four more days, with temperatures forecast to stay above 50°C due to an extreme hot spell from the Indian monsoon.