Kuwait - KUNA
The Cabinet and the Supreme Council for Planning and Development accepted a Ministry of Electricity and Water committee report on state subsidies, and raising the prices of diesel and kerosene by over three times.
The report highlights raising the prices of both fuel sources from KD 0.055 to KD 0.170 at wholesalers and fuel stations, said the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour and State Minister for Planning and Development Affairs Hind Al-Sabeeh.
The report, presented at the meeting held at Bayan Palace, had also discussed the main topic of electricity and water tariffs and government subsidies.
Due to the ever-expanding infrastructure, and thus increased demand and consumption, this has forced a re-assessment of the current tariff.
Consumption which has reached the point of "wasting" among sections of the public has called for precautions aimed at conserving these services, and encouraging consumers to protect these needs, she said.
Any eventual steps should take into consideration the standard of living of the Kuwaiti family, particularly those of a lower income, so that these financial obligations do not affect them in a damaging way under any circumstances, she added. The matter will be further discussed after ministries present their detailed assessments on the matter, including the scale of consumption and its reflections on sectors and economic activities, she said.