KUWAIT CITY – The Kuwaiti government has scrapped plans to construct the Al-Dabdaba solar plant as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s Cabinet has announced.

The plant would have provided approximately 15 percent of the electric needs of Kuwait’s oil sector.

In a statement following a meeting on Monday, however, “the Cabinet decided to cancel the decisions on the project due to the spread of coronavirus and its impacts on the global oil and financial markets.”

The project – which was slated to be carried out by the Kuwait National Petroleum Company – was initially planned to begin operations in February 2021. The project was repeatedly delayed.

Kuwaiti plans call for 15 percent of its energy needs to be provided by renewable sources by 2030.

The Cabinet statement added that the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation will be “focusing on its priorities for the coming stage and maintaining its position in the global oil markets.” – Agencies