The news that the Kuwaiti government is close to pushing through an amendment to its independent water and power project (IWPP) law conveys the weakening position of the country’s Partnerships Technical Bureau (PTB).

The proposed amendment will mean Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) is able to directly procure power projects with a capacity of more than 500MW, a prerogative reserved for the PTB under the current IWPP law, passed in 2010.

Established in 2008 to oversee the development of a $30bn public-private partnership (PPP) infrastructure programme, the PTB has struggled to make significant progress and the moves to reduce its role in the power sector will further emasculate the organisation’s role as a major player in Kuwait’s development plans.

The signing of the contracts for Kuwait’s first IWPP, Al-Zour North, in December concluded a protracted process with numerous delays. While optimism was raised that Kuwait’s PPP programme might finally be up and running, the MEW’s efforts to amend the IWPP law illustrates the scepticism that the PTB can deliver what is required. Key infrastructure projects, such as the planned Kuwait Metro and packages on the airport expansion, have also been removed from the PTB’s auspices.

Despite having overseen the completion of Kuwait’s first PPP deal, the move to amend the IWPP law is the latest evidence that the PTB is at risk of becoming superfluous to requirements.