Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The Kuwaiti Government has inaugurated the 615,000 bbl/d Al-Zour oil refinery located near Al-Wafrah in southern Kuwait The refinery features three distillation units Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC) a subsidiary of the national oil company Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) commissioned the first phase of the refinery in November 2022 which was originally scheduled for completion in 2019 will supply both the domestic and international demand for ultra-low-sulphur petroleum products adding up to a total capacity of over 1 mb/d refining capacity at the Mina Al-Ahmadi was reduced by 120 kbl/d in April 2020 while that of Mina Abdulla refinery was raised in 2020 through the commissioning of a 284 kb/d crude distillation unit Use this powerful business intelligence tool to assess current and future production capacities of oil products by country and by zone Gain insight into companies' asset portfolios and future trends for refined oil production capacities giving you the ultimate edge for strategy and decision-making Register now to subscribe to our informative monthly Resal Saudi Arabia-based provider of an e-gifting platform The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its business growth within the Kingdom Founded in 2016 by Fouad Alfarhan and Hatem Kameli Resal providing solutions that facilitate the management and exchange of loyalty points and airlines to governmental and non-governmental organisations The Resal Wallet app helps users accumulate and aggregate loyalty points from multiple sources such as telecom companies allowing them to convert these points into value that can be used for everyday purchases from its network of more than 1,000 brands Through the “Resal for Merchants” platform merchants and brand owners can design loyalty programs and digital cards and increase sales by connecting with the company’s solutions network for companies and individuals the leading Saudi company in digital cards announced the successful closure of a $9 million investment round with participation from Derayah Ventures Fund and several family offices and angels investors Resal indicated that the investments from this round will be utilized to accelerate its business growth within the Kingdom by expanding its targeting of new sectors launching various technological products for alternative payment solutions in addition to expanding its partner network and infrastructure across several different sectors "Our success in securing these investments is a significant testament to the investors' and partners' belief in Resal's role and its team's efforts in developing an effective digital ecosystem that contributes to providing innovative solutions in loyalty programs in alignment with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030." He further commented on the company's growth "We have doubled our sales growth recently and have increased the number of beneficiaries of our solutions to more than 1.5 million users and over 1,000 entities and organizations across more than 15 sectors This investment strengthens our confidence in delivering an ideal experience and launching a number of innovative solutions and products." "Our belief in the team is what drove us to be part of Resal from the beginning What Resal has achieved today is the result of outstanding efforts made over many years to elevate loyalty programs and financial technology in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf." Chairman of Al-Wafrah Investment Company II "The Resal platform is one of the pillars of our vision to create an innovative technological ecosystem that connects individuals and organizations through a large network of partners and financial sectors providing alternative solutions that help develop the digital ecosystem for alternative payments We believe in the smart capabilities and innovative solutions it offers." Logo of Wafrah for Industry and Development Co Wafrah for Industry and Development Co.’s board of directors decided today to appoint Abdullah Al-Shehri as Acting CEO the company said that the decision was based on the recommendation of the nomination and remuneration committee Al-Shehri has 14 years of experience in corporate management. He previously served as Director of Shared Services at Wafrah, advancing through various roles in human resources (HR) operations and support services management. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from King Saud University, along with multiple professional certifications in leadership and management. a newspaper in the OPEC member said on Monday The contract has a value of around 81.9 million Kuwaiti dinars ($270 million) and it was awarded to the lowest bidder by state-owned Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC) did not name that firm apart from saying the contract is part of three Al-Zour projects awarded by KIPIC with a total value of nearly KWD100 million ($330 million) Al-Zour facility is one of the world’s largest grass-root oil refineries with an output capacity of around 615,000 barrels per day (Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon) (anoop.menon@lseg.com) Subscribe to our Projects' PULSE newsletter that brings you trustworthy news updates and insights on project activities and partnerships across sectors in the Middle East and Africa Get insights and exclusive content from the world of business and finance that you can trust Wafrah for Industry and Development Co. signed on Aug 28 a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Jordan’s Al-Daman for Investment Co The company said in a statement to Tadawul that the MoU aims to outline the cooperation framework between the two parties to establish a frozen French fries production plant in Jordan For more news and details on the projects A specialized party is assigned to prepare financial and market feasibility studies for the project the necessary refrigerated warehouses are established operating and energy costs are determined within the framework of cost sharing and a timetable for implementation is drawn up The project aims to benefit from the extensive technical experience of Wafrah in manufacturing frozen potatoes and the agricultural capabilities of Al-Daman Al-Daman is a private company owned by Jordan’s Social Security Investment Fund (SSIF) and has a healthy financial position it will be the first plant of its kind in Jordan as it is one of the largest markets consuming frozen potato products it opens the way to explore important markets in the region Al-Daman will supply exclusive quantities of industrial potatoes to operate Wafrah plant in Riyadh Wafrah expected the final agreement to support its activities in manufacturing and marketing potatoes The MoU is a non-binding agreement that outlines the general framework between the two parties with further updates and key developments to be announced in due course Kuwait's al-Wafrah station is the hub for connecting neighboring countries with the future expansion of the interconnection network said the CEO of GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) in cooperation with specialists from the Kuwaiti Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy has conducted technical and economic studies to harness the full potential of grid interconnectivity He added that the technical studies confirmed the need to build a new station compatible with the technical specifications of the stations of the Kuwait network at a voltage of 400 kilovolts The official noted that the economic goals of establishing the Wafrah station include saving installed capacity especially with the increased summer electrical loads and boosting interconnection to pass a larger capacity in support of emergencies to member states It also provides more significant opportunities for energy exchange by increasing the electrical interconnection capacity to achieve economical operation increase the network's security and stability and enable the integration of renewable energy and maximum utilization The CEO explained that the project consists of constructing a 400 kV substation in al-Wafra and constructing double-circuit overhead lines to connect the station with the al-Fadhili station in Saudi Arabia The project includes expanding the Fadhili station by adding electrical circuit breakers with a voltage of 400 kV to connect with the Wafra station It also includes 400KV antennas to 3Z and 4Z stations to link with Kuwait Network Ebrahim noted that the project will take 24 months and will be completed at the end of December 2024 The Authority was established based on the Unified Economic Agreement between the Gulf states which was approved by the leaders in their second session in 1981 He indicated that the Gulf Interconnection Project is an essential infrastructure linking project achieving its most important strategic goals in enhancing energy security and raising Gulf electric systems' reliability and safety The Interconnection Project was implemented in three phases and consisted of the following principal elements: the interconnection of the Northern Systems in Kuwait The second phase comprised the internal interconnection of the Southern Systems to form the UAE National Grid and the Oman Northern Grid interconnected the Northern and Southern Systems The Authority's CEO explained that the interconnection objectives include enhancing the security of electric power and achieving economic savings resulting from the possibility of each country benefiting from the reserves of other GCC countries to help reduce their stockpiles The benefits also extend to saving the cost of building new power stations thus reducing operating and maintenance expenses and activating and developing electric energy trading markets Egypt's net foreign assets jumped by $4.9 billion in March apparently boosted by the approval of the fourth review of the country's IMF program Net foreign assets climbed to the equivalent of $15.08 billion from $10.18 billion at the end of February according to Reuters calculations based on official central bank currency exchange rates The International Monetary Fund in early March approved the disbursement to Egypt of $1.2 billion after completing its review of the country's $8 billion economic reform program It also approved a request for a $1.3 billion arrangement under the IMF's resilience and sustainability facility Foreign investors were significant purchasers of Egyptian pound treasury bills after the approval and as one-year bills acquired after the March 2024 IMF agreement matured which include assets held by both the central bank and commercial banks to help prop up its currency since as long ago as September 2021 Net foreign assets turned negative in February 2022 and only returned to positive territory in May last year Foreign assets increased in February at both the central bank and commercial banks while foreign liabilities rose at the central bank but declined at commercial banks Kuwait has declared cryptocurrency mining "illegal and unlicensed" as part of a broad crackdown to ease pressure on its strained power grid amid a worsening energy crisis This firm stance contrasts sharply with neighboring Dubai which continues to embrace the crypto sector recently hosting a major international conference attended by prominent industry figures Kuwait has launched a sweeping crackdown on cryptocurrency mining blaming the activity for worsening a power crisis that has led to rolling blackouts across the country as temperatures soar and air conditioning demand surges The Ministry of Interior announced last week that it had begun a "wide-ranging" security operation targeting homes suspected of hosting crypto mining rigs "These mining operations represent an unlawful misuse of electrical power … and may lead to outages impacting residential posing a direct risk to public safety," the ministry said The government's campaign has focused on the Al-Wafrah region in southern Kuwait The Ministry of Electricity reported that around 100 homes were being used for mining with some consuming up to 20 times the electricity of a typical household energy consumption in Al-Wafrah dropped by 55 percent Electricity in Kuwait is heavily subsidized and among the cheapest in the world making the country an attractive destination for crypto miners seeking to maximize profits Kuwait's power grid is under strain from multiple sources Electricity is heavily subsidized and among the cheapest in the world officials warn that the unchecked power consumption from mining rigs is pushing the grid beyond capacity exacerbating the risk of blackouts as summer heat intensifies While cryptocurrency trading has been banned in Kuwait since 2023 with no specific legislation until recent government action The Ministry of Interior has now declared crypto mining "illegal and unlicensed," and warned that violators will face legal penalties Authorities have identified over 1,000 suspected mining sites using abnormal electricity usage as a key indicator The crackdown is being coordinated at the highest levels with Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef and Minister of Electricity Dr Subaih Al-Mukhaizeem overseeing operations More than 60 individuals are currently under investigation and the Ministry of Electricity has begun disconnecting power from properties linked to mining activities Reconnection is only permitted after clearance from the Ministry of Interior Despite the government's assertion that mining is a "major" factor in the power crisis a source at the electricity ministry told Reuters it is not the only cause Researchers at the University of Cambridge estimated that Kuwait accounted for just 0.05 percent of global bitcoin mining in 2022 "It only takes a very small share of the total bitcoin mining network to have significant impact on the relatively small total electricity consumption of Kuwait." 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Saudi Electricity Co. invests $373m in 3 projects to boost power grid some of the world’s hottest regions have experienced winter blizzards HOW MUCH: More than half an inch of snow covered L.A.’s downtown weather station and the San Fernando Valley received nearly a foot has experienced a handful of snowfalls over the decades it’s remembered as the greatest recorded winter storm in the city’s history—not exactly a hard distinction to earn considering it’s only snowed six times in L.A WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Even though they had to temporarily trade in their shorts and T-shirts for parkas Californians managed to find humor in the situation and one hardware store erected a sign that read “Snow Plows for Rent—Hurry!” The city of Reno “’The Big Snow of 49,’ we will remark to our wide-eyed grandchildren “Now that was a snow that really was a snow.” HOW MUCH: A light dusting of snow (if it was snow) reportedly fell near a border post in Muhafazat al Wafrah WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: Temperatures in Kuwait can dip as low as 36°F during the colder months the tiny Gulf country has never experienced a white winter WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: "I asked my grandfather he said there has never been snow before," one local man commented to a newspaper the jury’s still out on whether Kuwait actually experienced its first official snowfall People shared images and videos of the phenomenon on social media one meteorologist told an official state news wire service that the “snow” was really hail that had fallen onto wet grounds WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island that stands nearly 14,000 feet above sea level making it the highest peak in the Pacific Ocean but it’s more unusual to see the volcano covered in frozen precipitation during warmer months Mauna Kea has experienced summer snow before—once in June 2011 and other incidents that have occurred in July WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Native Hawaiians (and weather experts) know that snow falls on the top of the summits of Hawaii’s three tallest volcanoes—Mauna Kea Mauna Loa and Haleakala—several times a year so a weather service explained the science behind the phenomenon in a social media post on June 15 “Although not common during the summer months snow can fall and has fallen during the summer The combination of cooler than normal upper air temperatures and thunderstorms bringing in moisture was what made snow possible yesterday.” HOW MUCH: Miami’s beaches received trace amounts of white stuff 28 minutes north of the equator—saw a few flurries The precipitation ended up being so slight that the freak occurrence wasn’t even officially recorded as a snow event WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: The event marked the first time that steamy South Florida had ever seen snow There hasn’t been a confirmed instance since—although one meteorologist says she received reports of flurries in Miami-Dade and Broward counties in January 2010 (These sightings weren’t officially confirmed by weather services.) WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Teachers allowed students to leave class and run in the snow and a sanitation company in Pompano Beach playfully put "Free Snow Removal" signs on its garbage trucks and I will never forget that day as long as I live," one woman later reminisced to a local newspaper on the event’s 35th anniversary last year WHEN: Two record-breaking instances: January 20 heavy snowfalls often blanket the state’s mountainous north central regions But snow is almost unheard of in Phoenix—which is why it was so monumental when the metro area received an inch of the white stuff on two separate occasions in the 1930s these incidents remain in the books as the greatest amounts of snow ever recorded in the region but only .22 inches of precipitation—and a trace amount of snow—was measured.)  WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Local newspapers described the 1937 snowfall in dramatic terms: “Winter subjected Arizona to an unrelenting barrage of bitter cold yesterday and Yuma,” one news outlet wrote—even though a subsequent paragraph revealed that only a few flakes fell during the late afternoon and evening HOW MUCH: : “A very fine snowfall” reportedly covered the hills above the municipality of St northeast of the capital city of Basse-Terre after the region experienced a cold front and accompanying precipitation WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: Caribbean news outlets claimed it wasn’t an April Fool’s Day Joke: For the first time in recorded history snow had actually fallen on the tropical French island of Guadeloupe (We haven’t been able to find accounts by non-locals so the jury’s still out on whether the alleged phenomenon was actually a prank.) WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: “This has never before been seen in Guadeloupe,” a French meteorologist said on TV “This is an exceptional event that we will never forget.” WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: Overnight rain turned into morning snow people reported measuring as much as one inch piling on top of rooftops and awnings (although it reportedly melted in an hour) Sydney reportedly experienced several other snowfalls but none were as dramatic—or as strange—as the 1836 incident WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Sydney officially become Australia’s first city in 1842 it was a colony of British settlers and former convicts the surprised European transplants “were reported to have made light of the unusual occurrence,” a reporter wrote “Some of the ‘Old hands’ express a hope that their old acquaintances Frost and Snow do not intend emigrating to New South Wales.” HOW MUCH: Parts of the city were covered in nearly a foot of snow WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: Can’t imagine white weather in the Mediterranean This was Rome’s heaviest snowfall since the mid-1980s—and the city was completely unprepared for the chaos it caused some commuters took as long as eight hours to arrive home from work and some 33,000 homes were left without power the next day officials were forced to shut down the Colosseum after they discovered that frozen chunks of its walls were falling off and the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill were closed to tourists WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: One journalist told a Canadian news outlet that Rome’s mayor announced nobody should drive in the snow without snow chains “which no one has in this city because it never snows,” she said have shovels: Civil protection authorities handed out around 2000 shovels in Rome’s central public squares and asked locals to lend a hand and help dig the city out HOW MUCH: It’s hard to pinpoint an official recorded depth but the snowstorm reportedly lasted a half-hour and melted within a few hours WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: The Saharan mountain ranges (which include Chad’s Tibesti Mountains and Algeria’s Ahaggar Mountains) experience snow around every seven years—but this time around The phenomenon marked the first time that snow was ever recorded in the desert’s low altitude areas WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: The snowstorm reportedly caused traffic delays but we still don’t know if locals complained or used the weather as an excuse to skip work HOW MUCH: A front of Antarctic air drifted north causing normally warm temperatures to dip and precipitation to fall Newspapers didn’t name an official snow depth wet layer of white stuff covered Buenos Aires and portions of the western highlands WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: According to the national weather service Buenos Aires hadn’t experienced a major snowstorm since June 22 (The occasion may have also felt particularly festive because it occurred on Argentina’s independence day holiday.) WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Children pelted each other with snowballs motorists drove with tiny snowmen on their car hoods and crowds gathered at the city’s famous Obelisk monument to enjoy the historic weather this is the first time I've ever seen in snow in Buenos Aires," an 82-year-old woman told a newspaper WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: Snow is a regular occurrence in northern Iraq’s mountain regions Locals reportedly couldn’t agree on when (and even whether) Baghdad had received snow before Some people said it had never happened whereas others argued snow struck the region once Others only remembered occasional rain or hailstorms WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Some people said they’d only seen snow in movies “I rushed quickly to the balcony to see a very beautiful scene,” said one 19-year-old college student “I tried to film it with my cell phone camera I called my other friends and the morning turned out to be a very happy one in my life.” Texas; and 1-3 inches across parts of the Houston metro area WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: Forget about white Christmases—South Texas rarely ever gets snow This was the most snow that the region had seen since the late 1800s it set several historic records: Corpus Christi experienced its heaviest-ever recorded snowstorm Victoria weathered its greatest 24-hour snowstorm and the city of Brownsville received its first measurable amount of snow since February 1895 WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Nobody believed forecasts calling for snow—so when the storm finally hit One man remembers his children playing in the snow plastic bags taped around their ankles to stay dry Other people recall snowball fights and snowmen and refer to the phenomenon as a Christmas miracle WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: The Big Easy is famous for its bayous and swamps but it’s also experienced 17 measurable snowfalls since 1852 (including a 1-inch dusting in December 2008) The city’s greatest snowstorm on record is the 1895 blizzard which reportedly also caused flurries to fall even further south WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Here’s one local newspaper’s account of the wintry weather phenomenon: “For more than 12 hours past snow has fallen here steadily and tonight [evening of February 14] the Crescent City is wrapped in a mantle of white such as she never wore before … Street car service was entirely suspended this afternoon charging unheard of prices for their vehicles.” WHEN: Weather stations have only officially recorded two instances of snow in Death Valley (This isn’t counting four inches of snow that was spotted at an unofficial weather station at Cow Creek WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: Death Valley is Earth’s hottest place Its average rainfall is less than two inches per year and temperatures often soar above 120°F (although it does get chillier during the winter months) HOW MUCH: Thanks to a rare Antarctic cold front parts of the arid region received nearly 32 inches of snow WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: The Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth thanks in part to the Andes Mountains and Chilean Coast Range which naturally block moisture from the region Parts of the 600-mile-long plateau have never even experienced a recorded rainfall WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Locals of nearby San Pedro de Atacama said the snowstorm was the largest the region had received in three decades Roads to the city were temporarily blocked and thousands of people were left without electricity © 2025 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved HOW MUCH: More than half an inch of snow covered L.A.’s downtown weather station, and the San Fernando Valley received nearly a foot. WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: L.A. has experienced a handful of snowfalls over the decades, but this one lasted for nearly three days. Today, it’s remembered as the greatest recorded winter storm in the city’s history—not exactly a hard distinction to earn, considering it’s only snowed six times in L.A. since 1949, and not once in the past 54 years. WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Even though they had to temporarily trade in their shorts and T-shirts for parkas, Californians managed to find humor in the situation. People built sombrero-wearing snowmen, and one hardware store erected a sign that read, “Snow Plows for Rent—Hurry!” The city of Reno, Nevada, even mailed L.A. a snow shovel. “’The Big Snow of 49,’ we will remark to our wide-eyed grandchildren, “ one local newspaper rhapsodized. “Now that was a snow that really was a snow.” HOW MUCH: A light dusting of snow (if it was, in fact, snow) reportedly fell near a border post in Muhafazat al Wafrah, Kuwait. WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: Temperatures in Kuwait can dip as low as 36°F during the colder months, but to our knowledge, the tiny Gulf country has never experienced a white winter. WHEN: The early morning of January 9, 1977 HOW MUCH: Miami’s beaches received trace amounts of white stuff, and even Homestead, Florida—a suburb that’s only 25 degrees, 28 minutes north of the equator—saw a few flurries. However, the phenomenon was short-lived, and the skies were clear by 9:30 a.m. The precipitation ended up being so slight that the freak occurrence wasn’t even officially recorded as a snow event. WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: The event marked the first time that steamy South Florida had ever seen snow. There hasn’t been a confirmed instance since—although one meteorologist says she received reports of flurries in Miami-Dade and Broward counties in January 2010. (These sightings weren’t officially confirmed by weather services.) WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Teachers allowed students to leave class and run in the snow, and a sanitation company in Pompano Beach playfully put "Free Snow Removal" signs on its garbage trucks. “Born and raised in Florida, I had never seen snow, and I will never forget that day as long as I live," one woman later reminisced to a local newspaper on the event’s 35th anniversary last year. WHEN: Two record-breaking instances: January 20, 1933, and January 21-22, 1937  WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Local newspapers described the 1937 snowfall in dramatic terms: “Winter subjected Arizona to an unrelenting barrage of bitter cold yesterday, sending snow flurries [to] Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma,” one news outlet wrote—even though a subsequent paragraph revealed that only a few flakes fell during the late afternoon and evening, and melted before hitting the ground. HOW MUCH: : “A very fine snowfall” reportedly covered the hills above the municipality of St. Claude, northeast of the capital city of Basse-Terre, after the region experienced a cold front and accompanying precipitation.  WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: Caribbean news outlets claimed it wasn’t an April Fool’s Day Joke: For the first time in recorded history, snow had actually fallen on the tropical French island of Guadeloupe. (We haven’t been able to find accounts by non-locals, so the jury’s still out on whether the alleged phenomenon was actually a prank.) WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: “This has never before been seen in Guadeloupe,” a French meteorologist said on TV. “This is an exceptional event that we will never forget.” WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: Overnight rain turned into morning snow, and by 7 a.m. people reported measuring as much as one inch piling on top of rooftops and awnings (although it reportedly melted in an hour). Over the following decades, Sydney reportedly experienced several other snowfalls, but none were as dramatic—or as strange—as the 1836 incident. WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Sydney officially become Australia’s first city in 1842. Before that, it was a colony of British settlers and former convicts. According to a local newspaper, the surprised European transplants “were reported to have made light of the unusual occurrence,” a reporter wrote. “Some of the ‘Old hands’ express a hope that their old acquaintances, Messrs. Frost and Snow do not intend emigrating to New South Wales.” HOW MUCH: Parts of the city were covered in nearly a foot of snow, and even more fell the following day. WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: One journalist told a Canadian news outlet that Rome’s mayor announced nobody should drive in the snow without snow chains, “which no one has in this city because it never snows,” she said. They did, however, have shovels: Civil protection authorities handed out around 2000 shovels in Rome’s central public squares, and asked locals to lend a hand and help dig the city out. HOW MUCH: It’s hard to pinpoint an official recorded depth, but the snowstorm reportedly lasted a half-hour and melted within a few hours. WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: The Saharan mountain ranges (which include Chad’s Tibesti Mountains and Algeria’s Ahaggar Mountains) experience snow around every seven years—but this time around, it fell in the city of Ghardaïa, Algeria. The phenomenon marked the first time that snow was ever recorded in the desert’s low altitude areas. WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: The snowstorm reportedly caused traffic delays, but we still don’t know if locals complained or used the weather as an excuse to skip work. HOW MUCH: A front of Antarctic air drifted north, causing normally warm temperatures to dip and precipitation to fall. Newspapers didn’t name an official snow depth, but the soft, wet layer of white stuff covered Buenos Aires and portions of the western highlands. WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: According to the national weather service, Buenos Aires hadn’t experienced a major snowstorm since June 22, 1918. (The occasion may have also felt particularly festive because it occurred on Argentina’s independence day holiday.) WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Children pelted each other with snowballs, motorists drove with tiny snowmen on their car hoods, and crowds gathered at the city’s famous Obelisk monument to enjoy the historic weather. "Despite all my years, this is the first time I've ever seen in snow in Buenos Aires," an 82-year-old woman told a newspaper.  WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: Snow is a regular occurrence in northern Iraq’s mountain regions. In Baghdad? Not so much. Locals reportedly couldn’t agree on when (and even whether) Baghdad had received snow before. Some people said it had never happened whereas others argued snow struck the region once, a little over 40 years prior. Others only remembered occasional rain or hailstorms. WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Some people said they’d only seen snow in movies, so they were eager to capture the moment. “I rushed quickly to the balcony to see a very beautiful scene,” said one 19-year-old college student. “I tried to film it with my cell phone camera. This scene has really brought me joy. I called my other friends and the morning turned out to be a very happy one in my life.” HOW MUCH: 12.5 inches in Victoria, Texas; 4.4 inches in Corpus Christi, Texas; and 1-3 inches across parts of the Houston metro area. WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: Forget about white Christmases—South Texas rarely ever gets snow, much less a measurable amount. This was the most snow that the region had seen since the late 1800s, so naturally, it set several historic records: Corpus Christi experienced its heaviest-ever recorded snowstorm, Victoria weathered its greatest 24-hour snowstorm, and the city of Brownsville received its first measurable amount of snow since February 1895. WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Nobody believed forecasts calling for snow—so when the storm finally hit, locals had nothing to wear. One man remembers his children playing in the snow, plastic bags taped around their ankles to stay dry. Other people recall snowball fights and snowmen, and refer to the phenomenon as a Christmas miracle. WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: The Big Easy is famous for its bayous and swamps, but it’s also experienced 17 measurable snowfalls since 1852 (including a 1-inch dusting in December 2008).  The city’s greatest snowstorm on record is the 1895 blizzard, which reportedly also caused flurries to fall even further south, in Tampico, Mexico. WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Here’s one local newspaper’s account of the wintry weather phenomenon: “For more than 12 hours past snow has fallen here steadily and tonight [evening of February 14] the Crescent City is wrapped in a mantle of white such as she never wore before … Street car service was entirely suspended this afternoon, and the hackmen reaped a harvest, charging unheard of prices for their vehicles.” WHEN: Weather stations have only officially recorded two instances of snow in Death Valley. The first occurred on January 9 and 11, 1949; the second, on January 4 and 5, 1974. (This isn’t counting four inches of snow that was spotted at an unofficial weather station at Cow Creek, the national park’s employee housing area, on January 12, 1949.)  WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: Death Valley is Earth’s hottest place, and North America’s driest. Its average rainfall is less than two inches per year, and temperatures often soar above 120°F (although it does get chillier during the winter months). WHEN: The snowfall began on July 3, 2011, and lasted for several days. HOW MUCH: Thanks to a rare Antarctic cold front, parts of the arid region received nearly 32 inches of snow. WHY IT WAS A BIG DEAL: The Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth, thanks in part to the Andes Mountains and Chilean Coast Range, which naturally block moisture from the region. Parts of the 600-mile-long plateau have never even experienced a recorded rainfall. WHAT THE LOCALS THOUGHT: Locals of nearby San Pedro de Atacama said the snowstorm was the largest the region had received in three decades. Roads to the city were temporarily blocked, and thousands of people were left without electricity, cell phone service, radio, and food. Text description provided by the architects. Nestled in Wafra agriculture, Kuwait,  Inspired by Kuwait's traditional courtyard houses. Surrounded by palm trees and horse barns, the villa's minimalistic design and construction aim to immerse the family in an unobstructed panorama of the landscape and the equestrian life around. © Nelson GarridoThe living area features an open kitchen design providing panoramic views in every direction By maintaining a clean and uncluttered roof we overcame the challenge of heat impacts that can be generated by this machine and traveled to the center court our approach involved discreetly blending air conditioning units into the interior design positioning them above closet cabinets in each room and concealing them behind the decorative mesh This integration allows us to preserve the villa's simplicity and uphold the aesthetic of clean surfaces throughout You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email With Al Wafra Al Thanya (Wafra II) joining the prominent list of existing investors The round focuses on product development and pushes growth into regional markets Yabi by Souqalmal was launched in Saudi Arabia this November boasting a localised personal finance wellbeing platform Driven by its firm belief in localisation for true value creation when it comes to personal finance Yabi launched in both English and Arabic in the Kingdom Yabi is now fully live in two markets UAE and KSA Yabi's commitment to the KSA market goes beyond the tailored content as the startup has a presence on the ground allocating dedicated resources to lead the market penetration The objective is to increase financial literacy through B2B relationships by encouraging companies to bring financial literacy as part of their employee well-being program and its impact will set an unprecedented growth Yabi and Saudi Vision 2030 share a common goal: to increase financial literacy and saving levels across the Kingdom Financial literacy and the involvement of individuals in the economy are top priorities for the public and private sectors ~30% of Saudis are considered financially literate today (report by SAMA) and the savings ratio was 1.6%1 of annual disposable income (2018) Those are evidence of some of the gaps we want to fill the Saudi Vision 2030 has within its targets to reach 70% of household ownership and to increase the national saving levels closer to the global average of 10% the Saudi government is working towards achieving its National Savings and Financial Literacy Strategy which aims to help individuals make better financial decisions and increase the access and use of personal financial tools This is a crucial moment for Yabi and the Kingdom to work towards the financial well-being of their citizens and residents.” says Ambareen Musa “Spreading financial literacy and financial awareness is key to allowing individuals to live their lives happily and to their fullest potential While technology has improved our lives in many aspects it also brought a negative impact on financial behaviours Yabi is at the forefront of using tech to empower individuals by spreading essential financial knowledge Wafra II believes that any future for fintech must include efforts to spread financial awareness its investment in Yabi to bring its platform to the Saudi market aligns with its core purpose to play a role in raising the level of financial education build up investments and savings and therefore contribute to Saudi Arabia’s digital GDP.” says Salah Khashoggi Yabi corporate pipeline is promising and expected to add more names to the already prominent list of adopters Sign up to receive our weekly digest of stories Wamda is licensed under a creative commons attribution-nonCommercial - noDerivs 3.0 unported license Please check your email to confirm your subscription Construction Week Online Home » News » GCC: Saudi Arabia and Iraq launch power grid interconnection project The agreement for the project was signed by GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) and Iraq during the ‘Jeddah Summit for Security and Development’ in July 2022, while a framework agreement was sealed between the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity and GCCIA in 2019 for the laying of the project’s foundation stone. According to the GCCIA statement, the project will entail the implementation of a 400 kilovolt (kV) dual-circuit transmission line connecting the Al Zour Substation, passing through the 400 kV Al Wafrah unit and reaching the Al Faw Substation, importing an estimated 500MW capacity, which will meet the electricity requirements of the Basra governorate.  The landmark event was also witnessed by HH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Minister of Energy, and Engineer Ziyad Ali Fadel, the Iraqi Minister of Electricity, as well as a number of Gulf Arab ministers of electricity, Gulf ambassadors to the Kingdom, and several officials from both the Gulf and Iraq. The agreement will provide substantial assistance to the Iraqi electrical grid, augmenting its capability to meet the growing electricity demands of the Iraqi population in the upcoming years.  Speaking on the occasion, HH Prince Saud said: “The launch of the Iraq electrical interconnection project has thrown open abundant prosperity as well as extensive advantages to the entire region. Additionally, this project serves as a catalyst for a new era, ushering in broader horizons and expanding market opportunities.”  “Since its establishment in 2009, when the Kingdom embraced it, the project has consistently demonstrated its impact year after year, generating numerous economic advantages for the GCC countries. Notably, it has substantially reduced both the capital and operational expenses associated with the Gulf electricity network,” he added. HH Prince Saud pointed out that the project had furnished approximately half of the overall required energy reserves in the countries prior to the finalisation of the electrical interconnection. Furthermore, it has established dependable, sustainable, and competitive electricity transmission services, yielding a positive influence in supporting and streamlining all developmental endeavours in the region. “Through this collaboration, we achieve a multitude of objectives, elevating the stature of the GCC countries in bolstering and enhancing the value of the regional electricity market,” stated the Governor. Adding that “the project fulfils the aspirations of the people in the region for electricity trade and exchange, while also serving as an integral component of the comprehensive Arab electrical interconnection project, which aims to connect Arab nations with each other.”  On the launch, HH Prince Abdulaziz said: “The start of the implementation of the GCC-Iraq electrical interconnection project represents our aim at boosting cooperation with Iraq in the economic and social fields.” Highlighting the project’s significance to Iraq, Ali Fadel said: “Of strategic importance in terms of Arab integration in the realm of electrical energy, this project also acts as a vital conduit linking Iraq to its Arab Gulf counterparts.” Support non-profit journalism and perspectives from around the world. See all those languages? The Lingua project at Global Voices works to bring down barriers to understanding through translation. The suicide of a young stateless man in Kuwait on December 6 has, once again, pushed to the fore the plight of the Bidoon – or “Without,” in Arabic – a stateless population of thousands who lives in the oil-rich country The 32-year-old man was arrested on Sunday in Al-Wafrah after residents filed a complaint to the police against an individual who was throwing stones at passersby According to Al-Anbaa the man – who was not named in the report – was located by the police and was found to “behave abnormally.” Identified as a convict indicted in other cases the young man – whose charges were not specified – was detained in order to be transferred to the country’s central prison he was found dead hours later in the police station using a rope he created from a blanket he was given in his cell the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior said it ordered an investigation into the man's death: الإعلام الأمني: معالي نائب رئيس مجلس الوزراء ووزير الداخلية يأمر بتشكيل لجنة تحقيق حول ما أثير من خبر يتضمن انتحار شاب (غير كويتي) في دورة مياه نظارة مخفر شرطة الوفرة pic.twitter.com/EUC3upCLy8 — وزارة الداخلية (@Moi_kuw) December 8, 2020 Security media: Deputy prime minister and minister of interior ordered the formation of an investigation committee to look into reports involving the suicide of a young man (non-Kuwaiti) in the bathroom of Al-Wafrah police station to identify the circumstances of the incident and whether there were violations or misconduct in the procedures a population denied Kuwaiti citizenship in the wealthy country Regularly referred to as “illegal residents” by the government, there are officially 100,000 Bidoon in Kuwait although activists say the population is larger Their complex legal situation dates back to the creation of the Kuwaiti state in the 1960s they didn't respond to the nascent authorities’ calls for residents to register themselves as citizens and have since been denied nationality their access to basic civil and human rights such as health Although the Bidoon maintain that they are indigenous of the Gulf state and that a majority of them have had no home but Kuwait all their lives the Kuwaiti government claims that many are citizens of other states who have abandoned their real nationalities in hopes of benefiting from Kuwait’s generous welfare system members of the community and supporters have taken to social media to express their solidarity and to demand the government put an end to the Bidoon's plight https://twitter.com/X501Xoxo/status/1335862729886797826?s=20 https://twitter.com/laywd3_/status/1335832832095219712?s=20  hashtags like #BidoonLivesMatter and #ICan'tBreath drawing from African American protests in the United States have also been used following similar incidents of suicide among this community Alleged screenshots of a WhatsApp exchange shared on Twitter show one of the men telling his son he was “deeply humiliated” and that he had given up all hope and so would take his life — أسرار زكريا الأنصاري (@Asrari) November 5, 2019 in all its details and words and all the pain it includes “Deeply humiliated,” “Dad overcome the devil,” “Take care of yourself” and then “Last seen!” The other deceased man, Bader Mirsal al-Fadhli, posted a video on Twitter before his death voicing deep frustration at his life circumstances Another incident of suicide among the Bidoon took place in May, and a medical student from the community also attempted to take his life in June In July 2019, a 21-year-old Bidoon man took his life after failing to get a job because he couldn't provide a state-issued identification card. He, too, was described by the authorities as a “convicted criminal” and a drug abuser That death triggered protests by members of the Bidoon community who demanded the government take a corrective action to mend their status Fifteen protesters were detained by the authorities on that occasion including prominent activist Abdulhakim al-Fadhli In a statement issued at the time, Amnesty International said: These arbitrary arrests primarily targeting peaceful protesters activists and human rights defenders in Kuwait are not only unlawful but are only set to exacerbate an already tense situation brought to the fore by the young man’s suicide To protest their arrest, the jailed Bidoon activists staged a hunger strike while in prison, lasting for 12 days, and only interrupted by the deteriorating health of some of them Despite calls on the Kuwait government to release the peaceful protesters It is unlikely that the much-prolonged issue of the Bidoon will be handled by Kuwait's newly elected parliament as dozens of past assemblies have fallen short of finding a solution Veteran politicians have often used the plight in electoral campaigns but once elected offered little to the community https://twitter.com/thedonq8/status/1335687889267593216?s=20 ERROR: SECURITY TIMEOUT - Please copy your message to a backup location Global Voices stands out as one of the earliest and strongest examples of how media committed to building community and defending human rights can positively influence how people experience events happening beyond their own communities and national borders Please consider making a donation to help us continue this work Donate now Authors, please log in » Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Stay up to date about Global Voices and our mission. See our Privacy Policy for details. Newsletter powered by Mailchimp (Privacy Policy and Terms) Global Voices is supported by the efforts of our volunteer contributors, foundations, donors and mission-related services. For more information please read our Fundraising Ethics Policy Special thanks to our many sponsors and funders Special thanks to our many sponsors and funders. Wafrah will produce500,000 cases of frozen French fries while Jal Al Sahraa will supply the potato tubers required for the manufacturing process The agreement term is one year starting from 7 March 2022 according to a bourse statement on Tuesday Wafrah appointed Khaled Saleh Al Amoudi as an Acting CEO for the company All Rights Reserved - Mubasher Info © 2005 - 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).   Get insights and exclusive content from the world of business and finance that you can trust, delivered to your inbox. Arts and Litters (NCCAL) has inked an agreement with the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) to preserve Ahmadi City's historic heritage The signing ceremony took place at KOC Ahmad Al-Jaber exhibition for oil and gas acting Assistant Secretary General of the NCCAL's museum and monuments sector Mohammad bin Redha and Deputy CEO for Planning and Innovation Mohammad Al-Abduljaleel Al-Aidan extolled standing collaboration to maintain the city's legacy due to its historic Al-Jassar said establishing the city is a paradigm shift in Kuwait's history All KUNA right are reserved © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). boasting a localised personal finance masterclass platform Yabi is now fully live in two markets UAE and KSA Yabi's commitment to the KSA market goes beyond the tailored content  The objective is to increase financial literacy through B2B relationships by encouraging companies to bring financial literacy as part of their employee well-being program This is a crucial moment for Yabi and the Kingdom to work towards the financial well-being of their citizens and residents.” says Ambareen Musa “Spreading financial literacy and financial awareness is key to allowing individuals to live their lives happily and to their fullest potential build up investments and savings and therefore contribute to Saudi Arabia’s digital GDP.” says Salah Kashoggi 1 According to a report by Forbes Middle East on the analysis of household savings in Saudi Arabia This is Yabi – The UAE's first financial education app and your very own personal finance academy Empower your decision-making with our advanced budgeting tools and financial health checker Dive into comprehensive courses taught by industry experts With personalised coaching and insights from financial minds elevate your financial knowledge and wellness with Yabi Media Contact Solape Ige solape@souqalmal.com The press release is provided for informational purposes only legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability value or profitability of any particular security Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law its affiliates and the respective shareholders content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages Utilities Middle East Home » NEWS » Kuwait’s KFAED to finance $570 million GCC interconnection grid expansion project The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) has revealed plans to extend a second loan for the Gulf Electricity Interconnection Expansion Project (GEIEP) with a second loan While specific loan conditions are yet to be finalised, this move follows KFAED’s March 2022 agreement in which they signed a $115 million loan deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA). The purpose of the agreements is to reinforce the electrical interconnection infrastructure across the Gulf region and Iraq, said a statement by KFAED on Tuesday. The GEIEP project, featuring a capacity of 500 megawatts (MW), includes the establishment of a central linking station at the Al-Wafrah facility in Kuwait. It also involves the construction of dual overhead lines to connect with the Al-Fadhili station in Saudi Arabia, followed by the conversion of a double overhead line leading back to the Al-Zour area in Kuwait. The Al-Wafrah station project is on track for completion by December 2024. This initiative is expected to benefit Kuwait significantly, as it is poised to augment its electricity network by nearly 2,500 MW, making it the primary beneficiary. The project also holds promise for improving the electricity network in southern Iraq. Integral to this is the construction of overhead lines from the Al-Wafrah area to the Sabah Al-Ahmad (3) and Sabah Al-Ahmad (4) stations, thus enhancing connectivity with the Kuwaiti network. Furthermore, a network of 400kV overhead lines will be extended to the Al-Faw station in southern Iraq to interconnect with the Iraqi grid. The project is expected to yield an economic return of approximately 14.4%, according to KFAED. In the distinguished presence of Jassim Muhammad al Budaiwi Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Kuwaiti Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development the GCCIA and the Kuwait Fund endorsed the agreement This strategic investment aims to fortify the GCC electrical interconnection system and enhance its linkage with the southern Iraqi network The accord was signed by Abdullah Ali al Yahya for the Kuwait Fund and by CEO Eng Ahmed al Ebrahim for the GCCIA at the headquarters of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development CEO Eng Ahmed al Ebrahim of the GCCIA remarked that these financing agreements represent a new era of collaboration between the fund and the authority in the ongoing expansion of the electrical grid This phase includes three major projects to enhance interconnections with Kuwait He highlighted that several expansion projects with other member states are currently under review poised for implementation in the forthcoming years The authority aims to leverage additional transmission capacities to activate the GCC common electricity market facilitating electricity trade within and beyond the Gulf potentially generating economic benefits exceeding $20 billion over the next fifteen years This ambitious project involves constructing a new interconnection station within the GCC grid in the Al Wafra region of Kuwait spanning approximately 62,000 square metres It includes extending 400kV double-circuit overhead transmission lines for about 255 kilometers to connect the new station with the Al Fadhili substation in Saudi Arabia and another 400kV double-circuit transmission line for roughly 295 kilometers from Al Wafra to the Al Faw substation in southern Iraq the project encompasses the procurement and installation of circuit breakers and advanced control and measurement systems to establish and expand substations in Al Wafra The initiative also involves augmenting the network connected to the Al Wafra station in Kuwait to accommodate approximately 3,000 megawatts and enhancing the network in southern Iraq linked to the Al Faw station to handle at least 500 megawatts Jassim al Budaiwi articulated pride in this pivotal agreement with the Kuwait Fund emphasising it as a symbol of enduring Gulf cooperation across all sectors notably in electrical interconnection and the multifaceted efforts by GCC states to sustain regional integration He extolled the GCCIA's critical role in strengthening the shared electrical infrastructure among GCC countries and its connection with Iraq underscoring this step's importance in achieving economic integration and sustainable development between the GCC and Iraq 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).   The GCC aims to generate 80 GW of renewable energy by 2030, tackling challenges with energy storage, grid stability, and AI, while boosting investment and regional energy security. Design of the $250 million project is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2022 a source aware of the details told Zawya Projects was awarded to Arab Engineering Consultant in January 2022 TimesKuwait.com portal had reported that KDIPA shortlisted two financial bids of 798,9000 Kuwaiti dinars and 2 million dinars for the project The scope of work involves the design of economic zone including industrial facilities The project is slated for completion in the third quarter of 2025 Al Wafra is among the three economic zones planned by KDIPA to create commercial gateways between Kuwait and the Gulf states The Zone is located 65 kilometres southwest from Kuwait Metropolitan Area and on the route to Saudi border crossing (Reporting by Senthil Palanisamy; Editing by Anoop Menon) (anoop.menon@lseg.com) Sofon said in a local bourse statement that the contract awarded by the state-owned Kuwait National Petroleum Company includes replacement of amine regenerator tower reboiler shells and associated piping with upgraded metallurgy in the Amine Regenerator Unit at the refinery “We have received a letter of award for this tender,” the Company said adding that it would provide more infornation to the Bourse Authority (Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon) (anoop.menon@lseg.com) called for linking the Wafra Economic Zone with the Burgan- Sabhan-Ahmadi road and the highway network and the paths leading to sea and land outlets An informed source revealed Al- Jaber confirmed in a letter to one of the competent authorities that the Wafra Economic Zone will form in the near future one of the pillars of exports between Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries as it will be vital in the fields of manufacturing Al-Jaber explained that this economic zone requires the necessity of linking it to the highway network and riads leading to the sea and land ports Al-Jaber hoped the competent authority will provide the authority with its views on linking the Wafra Economic Zone with the Burgan-Sabhan- Ahmadi road because of the positive repercussions on the success of the region by facilitating its connection with Shuaiba Port © 2022 Arab Times Kuwait English Daily. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). HEISCO said it was awarded the deal after it submitted the lowest bid for the project involves “retubing of heat exchangers during major shutdowns at Mina Al-Ahmadi Refinery,” the firm said (Reporting by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon) (anoop.menon@lseg.com) Subscribe to our Projects' PULSE newsletter that brings you trustworthy news The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com    The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is aiming for a significant shift towards renewable energy with plans to generate approximately 80 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy by 2030 according to the CEO of the GCC Interconnection Authority This ambitious target is expected to yield substantial social and economic benefits Al Ebrahim highlighted the challenges posed by the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources He acknowledged that these challenges are amplified by the increasing demand for electricity due to rapid economic growth in the GCC region the GCC Interconnection Authority is actively addressing these challenges by implementing innovative solutions These include energy storage technologies to address the intermittency of renewable energy sources stability control technologies to ensure a reliable and stable electricity grid continuous monitoring and artificial intelligence to analyse grid data enabling proactive decision-making and preventing potential disruptions and carbon footprint analysis to develop strategies for reducing the environmental impact of the GCC Interconnection Authority aligning with global efforts towards net-zero emissions Al Ebrahim stressed the importance of international cooperation to successfully integrate large-scale renewable energy into the grid while maintaining reliability He also stressed the need for collaboration among technical and research entities to address climate change and foster a sustainable future "The GCC's commitment to renewable energy is evident in its ambitious plans and the ongoing projects spearheaded by the Interconnection Authority The recent establishment of the Al Wafrah power station and the interconnection with Iraq are considered significant milestones strengthening the GCC's energy security and opening new investment opportunities in both traditional and renewable energy sectors," he stated "The Authority is also working on expanding the interconnection network with Kuwait aiming to increase capacity to over 3,000 megawatts for Kuwait and the UAE and enhance the direct connection with Oman from 400 MW to 1,400 MW," he explained The GCC's ambitious renewable energy goals and the proactive measures taken by the Interconnection Authority demonstrate a strong commitment to a sustainable future contributing to global efforts to combat climate change and secure a cleaner energy future for the region A moderate magnitude 4.5 earthquake hit 63 km (39 mi) away from Kuwait City, Al Asimah,  Kuwait 2021 at 11.31 am local time (Asia/Kuwait GMT +3) The depth of the quake could not be determined but is assumed to be shallow.The quake was felt widely in the area The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would.