Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity and Water has dropped plans to build a NPP, citing cost concerns, the Kuwait Times reported on 24 August .The ministry decided to retract the plans because studies proved it was unfeasible and too expensive and because alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar power, were more cost effective. Earlier in August, Russia expressed an interest in helping the kingdom develop its nuclear power sector.
In March 2009, Kuwait moved to set up a national nuclear energy commission, in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. In April 2010, it signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with France relating to a range of civil nuclear energy applications, including electricity generation, water desalination, research, agronomy, biology, earth sciences and medicine. In December 2010, the Kuwait Investment Authority agreed to take €600m ($675m) equity (4.8%) in Areva. Kuwait also has nuclear cooperation agreements with the USA, Russia and Japan.
