SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraq said on Saturday it plans to add 50,000 megawatts to its power grid in the next five years.
In a statement, spokesman of the Electricity Ministry Ahmad al-Abadi said it was working to add 5,000-6,000 megawatts next year to the power grid be establish new power transmission lines.
“Our five-year plan targets adding 50,000 megawatts to Iraq’s electricity grid,” al-Abadi said.
Oil-rich Iraq produces 19,000 megawatts of power – far below the 30,000 megawatts needed, according to the ministry’s spokesman.
Iraq is under increasing pressure from the United States to wean itself off electricity and gas imports from Iran, which has been subject to U.S. sanctions since 2018.
The country bought gas and electricity from neighboring Iran to supply about a third of its power sector, which has been worn down by years of conflict and poor maintenance, and is unable to meet the needs of the country’s 40 million population.
On August 10, Iran said it had suspended electricity exports to Iraq due to a surge in domestic demand.
The U.S. blacklisted Iran’s energy industry in late 2018 as it ramped up sanctions, but has granted Baghdad a series of temporary waivers, hoping that Iraq would wean itself off Iranian energy.
The failure of Iraq’s power system is particularly acute in the baking hot summer months, often a time of social protest exacerbated by electricity shortages, when temperatures shoot past 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit).
