By Miyoko Ishigami

TOKYO, April 23 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti and Japanese representatives on Tuesday discussed ways to further enhance cooperation and shared information about the electricity and water sector in Kuwait.
In the presence of visiting Kuwaiti Minister of Oil, Electricity and Water Dr. Khaled Al-Fadhel, "the High-Level Seminar on the Electricity and Water in Kuwait" was held in Tokyo with more than 100 officials from energy-related Japanese companies attending.
In his opening remarks addressing the one-day seminar, Dr. Al-Fadhel commended the long-lasting relationship between the two countries and voiced his ministry's keenness to enhance bilateral cooperation based on the Japanese long-term experience and its advanced technology.
The minister also highlighted a target announced by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to ensure that 15 percent of Kuwait's power demand to be met through renewable energy sources by 2030.
The seminar was organized by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in connection with the Kuwait-Japan Policy Dialogue on the electricity and water sector, which was established by the two governments in 2015. The dialogue aims to exchange information of future projects in Kuwait and applicable technologies of Japan, and discuss possible cooperation projects in the electricity and water sector.
Jassem Al-Nouri, Assistant Undersecretary for Transmission of Electrical Networks of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) briefed the participants on the ministry's future plan for electricity infrastructure, including the second and third phases of the Az-Zour North IWPP with 2,700 MW production capacity and the Al-Khairan Phase 1 development with 1,800 MW capacity.
According to Al-Nouri, Kuwait's maximum peak power demand recorded 13,910 MW, up 0.8 percent from the previous year, on July 10 last year, when temperatures reached 50 degrees.
For his part, Assistant Undersecretary for Water Projects of the MEW Humoud Al-Rowdhan said in his presentation that, due to the scarcity of fresh water from its natural resources, Kuwait has worked towards the desalination of seawater to meet the needs of its population to supply fresh water using the latest technologies.
Al-Rowdhan also listed a number of future water projects, such as ground reservoir for fresh water with the total capacity of 115 MIG at Mutla City and 87-km fresh water pipeline from Wafra to the Six Ring Road.
The Japan Bank for International Cooperation, one of the lenders of Az-Zour North IWPP and a clean fuels project involving state-run Kuwait National Petroleum Company, introduced its role and possible support to infrastructures in Kuwait, and the Nippon Export Investment Insurance made presentation on those projects in Kuwait in which it has participated.
The seminar was also attended by Kuwaiti Ambassador to Japan Hasan Zaman and high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Electricity and Water. Established in 1958 as a government-related organization, the JETRO works to promote foreign direct investment into Japan and helps small and medium-sized Japanese firms maximize their global export potential. (Pick up previous mk.mt