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Iraq’s Power Crisis: Minister Reveals Fuel Shortage as Biggest Challenge for Electricity Production

Baghdad – The Minister of Electricity, Ziad Ali Fadel, has identified fuel shortages as the primary challenge facing the ministry, emphasizing that energy production relies on fuel availability for 60% to 70% of its operations.

This statement was made during a panel discussion titled “Vision and Strategy of the Ministry of Electricity,” part of the “Iraq Energy” conference held in Baghdad.

The minister indicated that the ministry is actively working to decrease its reliance on imported gas by investing in associated gas. He highlighted the completion of electrical connections with neighboring countries, providing an additional energy source. Additionally, he noted that current renewable energy projects could yield up to 1,800 megawatts upon completion.

Looking ahead, Fadel announced that the ministry plans to sign a contract with the Emirati company Masdar to produce 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy, aimed at addressing the fuel crisis.

Regarding electricity demand for the upcoming summer, the minister projected a peak demand of 55,000 megawatts, contrasting with an estimated production capacity of only 29,000 megawatts.

To bridge this gap, he underscored that the ministry will rely on electrical connections with neighboring countries and the Kurdistan region, along with importing gas from Turkmenistan.

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