"There is a multi-billion dollar plan for the construction and rehabilitation of numerous electricity generation and distribution plants across the country," Serri said.
The government invited bids in December for the construction of four power plants to boost power-generation capacity by 2,750 MW. The bids will be for a 1,250-MW plant near Basra, and three 500-megawatt plants in the cities of Samawa, Diwaniya and Amarah.
The country imports 550 MW from Iran and 200 MW from Turkey which has also sent two ship-based generators that distribute an additional 80 MW to southern Iraq, he said.
"The Electricity Ministry made a plan this year to import an additional 300 megawatts from Iran," Serri said.
"Municipalities across Iraq were also given the permission to sign contracts to import power from neighboring countries and to establish small plants with capacities ranging from 5 to 10 megawatts to help face summer shortages," he said.
Iraq will start by the end of February to import electricity through Syria using a regional power grid, Al Baath newspaper said today, citing Syria's Minister of Electricity, Ahmad Qusay Kayali.
The regional grid connects Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Libya and the Palestinian Territories.
During his visit to Baghdad yesterday, Jordanian Prime Minister Samir Rifai also pledged to collaborate with Iraq in the electricity and energy industry.
Iraq wants foreign investors to help it boost energy and electricity production. Output of both has suffered from insurgent attacks and a lack of investment since Saddam Hussein's ouster in the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
(Source: Bloomberg)
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