Hastening energy transition for Kuwait by developing comprehensive energy statistics

Heavily reliant upon the oil and gas sector to not only meet its own energy needs, Kuwait must also export most of its crude oil and oil-derived products to international markets. There has been a growing concern that energy consumption in Kuwait has been growing at an ever-increasing rate, diminishing Kuwait's ability to export, thus affecting government revenues, which could lead to more fiscal deficits. To combat this trend, Kuwait must adopt energy efficiency policies to reduce local consumption while still providing the same if not better service than before. However, a paucity of energy statistics limits all analyses performed in Kuwait. To date, no entity in Kuwait publicly releases comprehensive energy statistics known as energy balances, a detailed account of the energy supply and demand over a specific period of time. Energy balances track the amount of energy produced and consumed in a variety of sectors, usually annually. These energy balances form the basis of many studies that could inform decision makers and stakeholders on the energy position in Kuwait. These types of statistics are key to formulating effective policies for the energy transition. In this research, the most comprehensive national energy statics on Kuwait are presented while also monitoring them through a method tailored to the nation's particular requirements. This approach encompasses the monitoring of energy consumption for water desalination, a distinctive aspect of energy demand, due to Kuwait being water scarce. Furthermore, this study highlights the limitations and difficulties in tracking data in Kuwait.