Iran Attacks Power Plant and Water Facility in Kuwait

ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/American Public Power Association

JAKARTA - A fire occurred at a power plant and water desalination facility in Kuwait due to an Iranian attack, which prompted the government to urge residents to save electricity in the midst of extremely hot summer temperatures.

Units of power plants were damaged in the attack, the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said in a statement. The ministry said the fire had been extinguished.

Kuwait is one of the countries most frequently targeted by Iran since tensions between Tehran and Washington flared up earlier this month. The country's power plants and desalination facilities have been attacked before, including in April.

Following the attack on Friday, July 17, the Kuwaiti government asked the oil-rich citizens to save electricity to "directly support the electricity network" and allow technical teams to "maintain the continuity of electricity services" in the country.

Arab countries in the region, including Kuwait, are almost entirely dependent on desalination for drinking water needs. Desalination is the process of converting seawater into drinking water.

In Kuwait and Oman, desalination meets about 90% of the need for clean water, in Bahrain 85%, and in Saudi Arabia about 70%. Major cities in the Gulf region, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Kuwait City, and Jeddah, are almost entirely dependent on desalinated water.