Kuwait is a wealthy country sectioned between Saudi Arabia and Iraq; it is a resource powerhouse, holding 6% of the world’s oil reserves and playing a significant role in oil exports. However, while the wealthy nation boasts a 0% poverty rate for its citizens, poverty among Bidoons, a stateless minority group in Kuwait categorized as “illegal residents” is extremely high. Out of the 100,000 Bidoons estimated to live in Kuwait, nearly all live below the poverty line and lack access to electricity, shelter and welfare. 

Who Are “Bidoons”?

Bidoon, short for Bidoon Jinsiya (which means “without nationality” in Arabic), is a minority group in Kuwait that has existed since Kuwait gained independence in 1961. After independence, the nation split into three nationalities: “founding fathers” who got nationality, naturalized citizens and the rest labeled as Bidoon Jinsya. The Bidoon group consisted of people who did not apply for citizenship due to the unawareness of the new citizenship law in rural parts of Kuwait, which is where they mainly lived. 

However, this lack of citizenship didn’t pose problems until 1986 when the Kuwaiti government labeled them as “illegal residents” and stripped them of their rights. This left hundreds of thousands of Bidoons in poverty, and most still suffer from various challenges ranging from energy poverty to issues with education accessibility. 

How to Reduce Poverty Among the Bidoon Group

Although several initiatives can reduce poverty, the implementation of renewable energy is one that can greatly reduce poverty among the Bidoon group. Here are the two main benefits of renewable energy: 

1. Renewable energy can end energy poverty through job creation. According to Habitat for Humanity, energy poverty is the lack of access to adequate energy to support development and growth. Energy poverty contributes to unhealthy living conditions, and research done by the Rockefeller Foundation suggests that investing in renewable energy projects can end energy poverty by 2030 while creating 500 million new jobs in Africa and Asia. These jobs have the potential to provide employment for the Bidoon minority group in Kuwait and provide them with economic support, effectively aiding in bringing them out of energy poverty.
2. Renewable energy is more affordable. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), “renewable power added in 2021 saves around $55 billion from global energy generation costs in 2022.” This report is crucial in proving that renewable energy is far more affordable than fossil fuels: accessibility and implementation-wise. For Kuwait, a country 100% reliant on fossil fuels, adopting renewable energy would make access to electricity, an element crucial for human development and shelter, more affordable to those living in poverty. 

Domestic and International Renewable Energy Initiatives in Kuwait

The energy sector in Kuwait is facing energy grid and capacity issues due to increasing demand for energy. As the country develops, there is not enough energy to supply its growth, and any more use of fossil fuels will have lasting consequences on the country’s people and energy sector. In fact, by 2030, Kuwait’s energy demand will triple, according to KISR. Thus, the Kuwaiti government has set a goal to power 15% of its total energy with renewable energy by 2030. This gives positive prospects that Kuwait will move towards sustainable energy and indirectly aid the Bidoon group’s fight against poverty. 

Furthermore, global initiatives from organizations such as the World Bank and REN21 promote sustainable energy development on a global scale. These initiatives can directly aid in reducing poverty among the Bidoon group, by creating jobs and increasing the affordability of energy. Overall, the likelihood of reducing poverty in Kuwait’s Bidoons is high as renewable energy is promoted domestically and internationally. 

– Suhani Bhattad
Photo: Unsplash