Kuwait Launches Shagaya Project, Aims for 50 Percent RE by 2050

Kuwait is set to begin construction of its ambitious Shagaya renewable energy project this year, aiming to generate 4,800 MW of clean electricity , nearly 27 per percent of the nation’s total power output.

This was announced by the Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, Dr. Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem, while speaking at the Kuwait Sustainable Energy Conference (May11-13).

Al-Mukhaizeem said the Shagaya project will be developed in multiple phases, combining Kuwait’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with a major collaboration with China. A recent agreement signed in March between Kuwait and the Chinese government outlines plans for 3,500 MW of renewable energy projects under this partnership.

A Chinese delegation landed in Kuwait on Sunday and will soon visit the Shagaya site. While the final investment figure is still being assessed, the minister expressed confidence that the project will be fully operational by 2028.

Al-Mukhaizeem emphasised that Kuwait’s long-term energy vision is focused on achieving a 50 percent renewable energy mix by 2050, in line with directives from HH the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. “In today’s climate and economic context, clean energy isn’t a luxury, it’s an urgent necessity,” he noted, highlighting Kuwait’s broader push to diversify energy sources, improve grid stability, and strengthen both national and regional energy security.

The minister also dwelled on the importance of regional cooperation, especially as Kuwait assumes the presidency of the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE). He called for joint initiatives, innovation, and knowledge-sharing to advance sustainable energy goals across the Arab world.

RCREEE Chairman Ahmad Al-Dosari hailed the conference as a vital forum for regional dialogue and praised Kuwait’s alignment with both the UN Sustainable Development Goals and its own 'Kuwait Vision 2035'.

Other speakers included Dr. Bahjat Abu Al-Nasr from the Arab League, who marked the League’s 80th anniversary by reaffirming its commitment to energy transition partnerships, and Dr.Torkild Byg of the European Union Mission in Kuwait, who reaffirmed the EU’s goal to be the world’s first carbon-neutral continent by 2050.

The three-day event features expert-led panels, workshops, and an exhibition showcasing the latest renewable energy technologies. Dr Grammenos Mastrojeni, Deputy Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, stressed the importance of a holistic approach to sustainability, especially in tackling interlinked challenges of climate, water, food, and energy security.