KUWAIT: The electricity and water ministry has prepared an executive study to hike electricity and water tariffs by 50 percent, which is expected to be implemented this year upon the approval of the National Assembly, sources revealed to Kuwait Times.

"The executive study to increase prices of electricity and water has been ready for some time, but the government's resignation delayed its implementation. However, citizens will be excluded from this increase in their private homes, while their investment and commercial properties will be subject to the increases. The ministry says the increase is necessary due to the rise in global energy prices as well as the burden it represents on the ministry's budget and public funds," the sources clarified.

"The increase will be applied to citizens who own more than one house, as the old prices will only be applied to their first home. There are government fears that the National Assembly will reject this increase, but the government will fight for its approval, especially since the constitutional court's decision to annul the parliament might change the political scene," sources added.

Sources denied any impact of the hike on skilled expatriate workers. "Fears about the exodus of skilled expatriate workers due to the increase in electricity and water prices are not justified, as the increase is global and has occurred in many countries," the sources argued.