Kuwait and China have signed a framework agreement to enhance cooperation in renewable energy and solar plant technology, following six months of negotiations. The agreement was signed by Adel Al-Zamel, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy, and Ren Jingdong, Deputy Director of China’s National Energy Administration. As part of the deal, China will oversee the development of the third and fourth zones of the Al-Shagaya and Al-Abdiliya solar plant projects, which will have a combined production capacity of 7,000 megawatts (MW), with the potential to expand to 10,000 MW.
The Shagaya Renewable Energy Park, located near the Kuwait-Saudi border, is a key component of Kuwait’s strategy to generate 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. This agreement is a significant step towards achieving this goal and reducing Kuwait’s dependence on fossil fuels.
This cooperation builds on a recent deal between Kuwait and China to develop the Mubarak Al-Kabeer port, a strategic infrastructure project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The port is expected to handle over 8 million containers upon completion.
The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials from both countries, including Kuwait’s Ambassador to China, Jassem Al-Najem. The two nations will mark the 54th anniversary of their diplomatic relations on March 22. This cooperation reflects the strong bond between Kuwait and China, with a long history of collaboration in various industries.