Acwa expands footprint in Kuwait: Homegrown energy giant Acwa Power and Kuwait-based Gulf Investment Corporation signed contracts with the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP) for the second and third phases of Kuwait’s Az-Zour North Plant, Reuters reports. The two phases are valued at over USD 3.27 bn, KAPP’s Director General Asmaa Al Mousa told the newswire, adding that the full cost will be covered by the investors, not the government.

The details: The combined-cycle facility — one of the largest power projects in Kuwait — will generate 2.7 GW of electricity and produce 120 mn gallons of desalinated water per day upon completion. The IWPP plant operates with a mix of liquified natural gas and high-pressure natural gas. Construction is expected to take three years, with the expansion aimed at easing the country’s severe electricity shortages.

Background: Acwa acquired Kahrabel’s — the MENA operations arm of France’s Engie — stakes in the Az-Zour North (18%), Al Ezzel, Al Dur, and Al Hidd power plants in Kuwait and Bahrain back in February. The agreement was valued at SAR 2.6 bn and marked the company’s entry into Kuwait and expansion in Bahrain.

Kuwait can use the energy bump: Kuwait faced an energy crisis last year after a 300 MW steam turbine at the 6 GW Az-Zour South power complex went offline as peak load reached 16.81 GW, with extreme temperatures worsening the crisis.

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