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Shafaq News
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's water crisis deepens as Dokan Dam levels plunge
Shafaq News / In the face of a sharp decline in water levels at Dokan Dam in al-Sulaymaniyah province, Kirkuk's Water Directorate has issued an urgent appeal to residents to conserve water, warning of potential disruptions to the daily supply if current usage patterns persist. Dokan Dam, one of the largest in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, is crucial for supplying drinking water to millions across al-Sulaymaniyah, Kirkuk, and surrounding areas. Technical sources report that the dam's reserves have dwindled to under 3 billion cubic meters, nearly half of its maximum capacity of 6.8 billion cubic meters, due to scarce rainfall last winter. To manage the crisis, authorities have cut water releases from 70 cubic meters per second to 30 cubic meters per second in a bid to preserve what remains. Kirkuk's Water Director, Abbas Ismail Ali, told Shafaq News that the province is entering a critical phase that demands broad cooperation. 'With the reduced water releases from Dokan Dam, residents must use water wisely and avoid wasteful practices such as washing cars and streets,' he said. In response, Kirkuk authorities have launched a field campaign to crack down on illegal connections and wasteful water practices that hinder supply to various neighborhoods. Starting June 1, 2025, the water department will enforce financial penalties under Resolution 296 (1990) and Law No. 56 (1977), targeting anyone found guilty of wasting potable water. Ali emphasized the importance of raising public awareness through educational videos and campaigns, urging media outlets and social media activists to help convey critical conservation messages and support the province's efforts to navigate this mounting water crisis.
Arab Times
22-04-2025
- Arab Times
Over 1,000 Sites Found Mining Cryptocurrency Illegally in Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, April 22: The Ministry of Interior has issued a warning against unlicensed cryptocurrency mining activities in Kuwait, cautioning that such operations are in violation of national laws. Meanwhile, officials from the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy have disclosed that over 1,000 locations across the country have been identified where individuals are actively engaged in cryptocurrency mining. According to sources, cryptocurrency mining operations are significantly straining the power grid, with energy consumption at a single mining site reported to be 5 to 20 times higher than that of a typical household. The Ministry of Interior emphasized that cryptocurrency mining contravenes multiple legal provisions, including Law No. 56 of 1996 on Industrial Regulation, Law No. 31 of 1970 amending parts of the Penal Code, Law No. 37 of 2014 concerning the establishment of the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA), and Law No. 33 of 2016 governing the Kuwait Municipality. The Ministry highlighted that such unauthorized mining activities place a heavy burden on the national electricity grid, increasing the risk of blackouts in residential, commercial, and essential service areas. This, they warned, could compromise public safety and disrupt critical infrastructure. This statement follows a coordinated effort involving the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, CITRA, the Public Authority for Industry, and the Kuwait Municipality. Together, these bodies are working to curb illegal mining operations and mitigate their harmful effects on the nation's energy infrastructure. Authorities have urged violators to immediately correct their status, warning that failure to comply will result in legal consequences, including referral to investigative authorities for prosecution in accordance with applicable laws. Additionally, sources revealed that some individuals are attempting to conceal their mining activities by shutting off household air conditioning units—devices that consume considerable electricity—to offset and mask the abnormal spike in power usage. This tactic, however, has not gone unnoticed, as authorities have traced unexplained surges in electricity consumption back to illegal mining setups. Cryptocurrency mining is a resource-intensive process involving the decryption of digital currencies through a series of complex computational steps. It requires powerful hardware operating continuously around the clock, resulting in enormous electricity consumption and posing a growing concern for the nation's power supply stability.
