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KUWAIT: The total cost of Kuwait Oil Company's (KOC) 'Sedra 500' solar plant renewable energy project is $27 million, a prominent KOC engineer said yesterday. In a statement to the press on the sidelines of a panel discussion over the project, organized by the public relations department of the Ministry of Oil, engineer Ammad Safar said that the project which was launched in 2013, had only begun in earnest last month with a total energy of 10 megawatts per day.

Moreover, he noted that the 'Sedra 500' solar plant project is part of efforts to fulfill His Highness the Amir's plan of full use of renewable energy sources by the year 2030, adding energy generated by the 'Sedra 500' solar plant is used to supply around 27 oil wells.

Through this project, Safar underscored that KOC aims to illustrate its commitment to environmental conservation and efforts to reduce lethal carbon emissions for the good of humanity. Meanwhile, KOC energy consultant Dr Raed Sharif spoke of the company's propensity to undertake similar endeavors, most notably, plans to build a power station fueled by solar energy.

On Kuwait's readiness to embrace full renewable energy use, he noted that the country possesses a solar energy capacity of more than 2,000 kilowatts per year, which is conducive to full-fledged use of solar energy. He also underscored the feasibility of renewable energy projects in Kuwait, adding that the cost of such projects has diminished in recent times. - KUNA