Kuwait, China to Sign Agreement in Mid-October for Country’s Largest Wastewater Plant

Kuwait is set to sign a contract with China in mid-October to construct the North Kabd wastewater treatment plant, which will be the country’s largest by capacity, according to the state news agency.

The new facility will have the capacity to treat up to 1 million cubic metres of wastewater per day using advanced technologies.

Despite its oil wealth, Kuwait has long struggled with wastewater reuse. Much of the treated water is discharged into the sea due to limited storage infrastructure, and what remains is primarily used for irrigation due to quality constraints.

The North Kabd project is part of a broader set of large-scale developments Kuwait is pursuing with Chinese backing. These include the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port, new power and water plants, renewable energy initiatives, waste recycling facilities and the development of residential cities.

In 2023, Kuwait signed several memorandums of understanding with China during a visit to Beijing by then-Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Sheikh Meshal became Kuwait’s emir in December 2023.

According to the assistant foreign minister for Asian affairs, Kuwait is coordinating with China to finalise additional contracts, pending the completion of feasibility studies on each project.

Ambassador Sameeh Johar Hayat, speaking after the 28th meeting of the Ministerial Committee for Oversight of Chinese Projects—chaired by the prime minister—declined to disclose the project’s financial details or the name of the Chinese state-owned enterprise responsible for the plant.

However, he confirmed that Kuwait has formally notified China that it is beginning contracting procedures with the Chinese state firm selected for two major renewable energy projects. While the company was not named, local reports suggest it may be the State Power Investment Corporation.

Kuwait-China relations are currently “at their best in history,” Ambassador Hayat said during a recent reception marking China’s National Day.