Sulaymaniyah Residents Protest Rising Generator Costs Amid Electricity Supply Crisis
On Sunday, March 2, 2025, residents of Sulaymaniyah voiced their frustration over the soaring costs associated with civil generator services, which have reached 21,000 dinars per ampere in the past month.
According to Muhammad Hussein, a member of the protest committee in Sulaymaniyah, the region is experiencing significant deficiencies in electricity supply, compounded by an alarming rise in generator service fees. He attributed these issues to the persistently challenging financial circumstances faced by the region.
Hussein emphasized that the exorbitant generator fees are a reflection of the regional government’s ineffective management, exacerbated by persistent electricity shortages that have dwindled to as little as five hours of power per day—especially critical during the month of Ramadan, amid prevailing cold weather conditions.
The increased generator costs represent a substantial burden for citizens, particularly those with lower incomes, who are already grappling with a prolonged salary crisis affecting the Kurdish population. This situation underscores systemic failures across various sectors.
Residents have expressed escalating discontent regarding the degradation of public services, particularly the reliability of electricity supply, which has sharply declined in conjunction with the cold wave affecting the city. Aram Hashem, a local citizen, stated, “The services in Sulaymaniyah are very poor, especially during the first days of Ramadan and with the drop in temperatures.” He further highlighted that over the past 24 hours, the primary electricity supply has been operational for only two hours, branding this situation a significant catastrophe.
A former member of the Kurdistan Parliament, Ahmed Daban, attributed the deterioration in services to the regional government’s oversight. He criticized the current administration for its lack of responsiveness to economic woes while prioritizing its own interests. Daban indicated that the local population is bearing the brunt of these failings.
The Kurdistan Region is caught in a multifaceted crisis characterized by the collapse of essential services amid harsh winter conditions and temperatures plummeting below zero. The ongoing utility challenges are worsened by rising oil derivative prices and inadequate distribution of white oil necessary for heating purposes.
Underlying these issues are tensions between the regional government and the federal government in Baghdad, with the salary crisis lingering as a pivotal issue between both parties. Protesters argue that systemic failures extend beyond salary disputes, pointing to the regional government’s inability to effectively manage public services as a critical area of concern.
The rising frustration among the populace is indicative of deteriorating living conditions and a lack of effective solutions, which raises the prospect of renewed protests in the near future.
