Iraq is advancing initiatives to cease the burning of associated gas and process it to fuel power plants through several extraction projects aimed at removing impurities.
The country has successfully increased its utilization of gas from approximately 50% to 67%, with an ambitious target of 80% by early 2027. The government aims to completely eliminate the flaring of gas by the end of that year.
Currently, Iraq is heavily reliant on imported gas to operate about 60% of its gas-powered generation facilities. This reliance underscores the critical need for enhanced domestic gas extraction capabilities.
Improvement in Gas Utilization
Oil expert Hamza Al-Jawahiri noted that the rise in gas utilization to 67% is attributed to ongoing infrastructure projects. He indicated that around 33% of the gas is currently tied up in projects under construction, which are projected to be addressed by 2027.
Many of these initiatives are designed to improve gas investment through the extraction of harmful impurities such as sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and water. This progress is expected to reduce Iraq’s dependence on foreign gas supplies.
Government Measures and Environmental Concerns
The Iraqi government has recently resolved to supply power plants with gas or diesel as alternatives to Iranian gas, despite the limited quantities available from these sources. The environmental ramifications of burning associated gas are noteworthy, as it releases toxic gases, including sulfur dioxide and methane. Consequently, Iraq ranks as the third-largest nation globally in terms of gas flaring, following Russia and Iran.
According to the World Bank, the total volume of gas burned in Iraq during 2023 reached approximately 18 billion cubic meters.
Strategic Projects and International Agreements
Economist Nabil Al-Marsoumi emphasized the necessity of expediting the completion of four key projects in Nasiriyah, Halfaya, and Artawi, which are anticipated to add around 1,200 million cubic meters of gas per day. Furthermore, the French Total Project will contribute an additional 600 million cubic meters daily to the domestic supply.
Al-Marsoumi also highlighted that increasing Iraqi oil production—currently averaging 4.2 million barrels per day—will likely result in a commensurate rise in associated gas extraction, much of which is currently wasted through burning.
Lastly, an agreement between Iraq and Turkmenistan has been established to supply Iraq with 20 million cubic meters per day of gas via Iranian pipelines, further solidifying the nation’s energy security strategy.