KUWAIT: Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Dr Salem Al-Hajraf on Friday stressed the need to enhance water security and build capacities to face common global challenges. “Water is not just a private resource that can be monopolized and competed for, but it is a human right that everyone must respect,” Hajraf said in a statement marking World Water Day.

Hajraf said the rate of demand for water is expected to increase to 800 million imperial gallons per day by 2035, while the maximum rate of demand for water until the end of this year may reach 585 million imperial gallons per day, an increase of 27 percent. He pointed out that the ministry has developed its future plan to meet the needs of the state, noting that its production of water will reach approximately one billion imperial gallons per day by 2035.

He said that the challenges facing Kuwait when it comes to water security still exist, on top of which are the high consumption rates, but the ministry has taken serious and effective steps towards improving water management and conservation through the study and experimentation of the use of renewable energy and its endeavor to acquire modern and advanced technologies with high efficiency and high performance.

Hajraf added that the celebration of World Water Day sends a message to world leaders and peoples of the earth that it is necessary to cooperate in the field of water to achieve a positive compounded effect for humanity, as water is the main pillar of life. He added that Kuwait’s participation with the countries of the world in celebrating this day shows its keenness to secure its local water needs in modern and innovative ways, efforts which date back to 1951 when it established the Shuwaikh plant as the first seawater desalination plant in the world at the time.

He pointed out that World Water Day is an opportunity to join efforts on water issues and accelerate progress in this vital field. “We must all play our role, each within their capacities, to preserve this basic resource of existence and work together to manage this blessing in a sound and sustainable manner.”

Hajraf said that the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy has been working since its establishment on November 17, 1962 with every effort to realize its goals and keep pace with Kuwait’s vision for the state’s housing and service projects.

He spoke about the world’s commitment to the sixth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which stipulates the provision of sustainable water management for all by 2030, thereby providing safe drinking water to disadvantaged communities.

The world celebrates World Water Day on March 22 of every year as a way to draw attention to the importance of freshwater and advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources, and the aim of this day is to take action to deal with the global water crisis in support of achieving the sixth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals. — KUNA