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By John Lee.

Iraq's Minister of Electricity, Ziyad Ali Fadel, has overseen the signing of a new contract with Turkish company Alifrin to double the capacity of the Iraq-Turkey electricity interconnection line from 300 to 600 megawatts.

Under the agreement, the first phase will see the supply of 300 MW via the Jazira-Kesk 400kV line in Nineveh province, with full capacity expected within a month. The Ministry has already completed all required technical preparations, including stations and transmission lines.

The project will directly enhance electricity supply to northern regions and provides strategic benefits by linking Iraq's grid with the European energy network, of which Turkey is a key member.

Importantly, the agreement adopts a "Take and Pay" model, meaning Iraq will pay only for consumed power-offering financial flexibility and avoiding waste.

This initiative is part of the Ministry's broader strategy to diversify energy sources and reduce dependency on a single supply channel, while strengthening cooperation with neighbouring countries and the EU.

(Source: Ministry of Electricity)

By John Lee.

Iraq's National Investment Commission (NIC) has announced more than 135 ready-to-offer investment opportunities across key economic sectors as part of its preparations for the Iraq Investment Forum 2025, scheduled for 14-15 June.

The NIC has held a series of intensive coordination meetings with provincial investment commissions to review and validate the legal and technical readiness of the investment licences associated with the listed opportunities.

The opportunities span critical sectors such as:

• Electricity
• Oil
• Telecommunications
• Housing
• Free Zones
• Transport
• Youth and Sports

Huda Aidan, Director General of the Economic and Technical Department at the NIC, said all projects have been vetted for legal compliance and ownership approvals, making them fully eligible for allocation and immediate investment.

The forum is also expected to mark the launch of several strategic projects in the industrial, agricultural, and tourism sectors. It is positioned as a milestone event in attracting foreign direct investment and mobilising domestic capital, in line with Iraq's Vision 2030 for Sustainable Development.

(Source: NIC)

By John Lee.

Japan's Ambassador to Iraq, Akira Endo, has reportedly reaffirmed his country's support for Iraq, announcing over $21 billion in economic cooperation projects since 2003.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of a new agreement between the Iraq Development Fund and the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME), he emphasized Japan's ongoing commitment to improving Iraq's investment climate and attracting foreign companies.

According to the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), the ambassador noted that Japan has been the top donor to Iraq in recent years, primarily via yen loans supporting infrastructure in electricity, water, sanitation, and oil. He highlighted the role of JCCME over the past decade in bridging Japanese companies with opportunities in Iraq through business seminars, sector-focused delegations, and training for Iraqi officials in Japan.

He added that the six priority sectors identified by the Iraq Development Fund-education, agriculture, housing, digital transformation, manufacturing and food security, and environment-are aligned with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani's government priorities and match areas of Japanese expertise.

(Source: INA)

By John Lee.

Iraq's Council of Ministers has approved direct contracting with Turkiye's Karpowership Group to enhance electricity supply during the high-demand summer period.

The contracts will add 650 megawatts through the deployment of power ship.

In a parallel move, the Cabinet also approved the launch of a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) project for the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The FSRU will supply the Bismayah Power Plant with 750 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, bolstering generation capacity.

These measures are part of the government's broader efforts to address electricity shortages during peak consumption and improve national energy infrastructure.

(Source: PMO)

By Ahmed Mousa Jiyad. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Petroleum Sector in A New AI-based Iraqi National Memory Project

A group of dedicated artificial intelligence (AI) specialists and professionals are enthusiastically racing against time and actively working on a first of its kind major mission: Iraqi National Memory Project (INMP). It is a national initiative to preserve and digitize over a century of historical, political, economic, and cultural documents, among others, by using AI tools and facilities.

INMP is a collaborative effort between the NewsSocial^[1], which is a UK-registered cooperative society building a next-generation platform for collaborative intelligence, memory, and AI-enabled public infrastructure, and the Mushtarek Platform of Iraq, where it plays a key role in the INMP.^[2]

Currently, INMP is in the formation and testing phase, the formal launching of the project is scheduled for the end of the year.

The first public activity during this experimental phase was about petroleum sector in Iraq; the backbone of the Iraqi economy. The Mushtarek Platform called for and convened a meeting using Zoom facility on Friday, 9 May 2025.^[3]

A brief introduction to the event was delivered by Ms. Bayda Hamed, Editor of the INMP and the moderator of the event, followed by my presentation linking Iraq Petroleum Sector Chronicle (IPSC) with INMP, then Dr. Ali Al-Assam, Director at NewsSocial, outlined in a concise way what, how and why AI facilities are used for this project. The moderator starts the session for comments, Q & A and debate until the end of the event.

In my PowerPoint participation I reiterated my emphatic support for INMP and highlighted the strong links and synergies between this initiative and my own database, which I have been working on it for nearly three decades.

My major research and publishing work is documented through a series of books, published under unified title- Iraq Petroleum Sector Chronicle (IPSC); six volumes are already published, covering the period up to end 2015, and new volumes are in the pipeline, covering the period from 2016 onwards.

All IPSC books rest on three pillars: Database, Connectivity & Networking, and Research Methodology.

• Large, wide, detailed, well organised and continuously updated database. Roughly, 80% of the database is related to Iraqi issues and topics, 70% of which are on the sector-wide petroleum. Each year has its own "master annual file-MAF", which in turn feeds into numerous "thematic or specific" files. These MAFs and the thematic files are the core of IPSC project books. There are 15 MAFs up to and including this year.
• Connectivity & Networking. Broad network of contacts and resources comprising two main categories- Outbox and Inbox. The outbox comprises more than 2500 contacts emails divided over ca. 84 mailing lists, sharing with them my articles, commentaries, research work and notes on my books. These are reposted by more than ten websites and by good number of others' social networks and groups. Moreover, for the inbox, I have subscription in many national and international sources such as organisations, government entities, research institutions, think-tanks, and media among others. Inputs from such networking are important source of information, data and analyses.
• Elaborated research methodology. A detailed document outlines the main principles and the research methodology of IPSC books.

All my IPSC books have unified main title, i.e., Iraq Petroleum Sector Chronicle, but differ in number of volumes, the covered period and the sub-title. All the published books have similar structure of contents.

So far six books have been published covering the period up to end 2015. Books covering 2016 onwards are in the pipeline and forthcoming.

First book

Book title: Iraq Petroleum Sector Chronicle

Book Sub-title: Grand Opening for Big Push Strategy, Volume 1, 2010 & Earlier

Published October 2021

Second book

Book title: Iraq Petroleum Sector Chronicle

Book Sub-title: A Game Changer No More, Volume 2, 2011

Published May 2022

Third Book

Book title: Iraq Petroleum Sector Chronicle

Sub-title: Reality Seldom Coincides with Expectations, Volume 3, 2012

Published November 2022

Fourth book

Book title: Iraq Petroleum Sector Chronicle

Sub-title: Contracts Amendments in the Making, Volume 4, 2013

Published April 2023

Fifth book

Book title: Iraq Petroleum Sector Chronicle-

Book Sub-title: Convergence of Threats and Challenges, Volume 5, 2014

Published August 2023

Sixth book

Book title: Iraq Petroleum Sector Chronicle

Sub-title: Predicaments Continued, Development Derailed-Volume 6, 2015

Published January 2025

Part four in each IPSC book is for data and statistics and has many sections. The sixth book has ten sections, and some data goes back to 2005:

Section 1- Oil Production and its Fiscal Aspects 

Section 2- Oil Export, Revenues and Prices                      

Section 3- Refining Sector: Capacities, Location and P-D Misalignment         

Section 4- Associated Gas: Production and Flaring                     

Section 5- Oil Supplies to Domestic Refining Sector                    

Section 6- Iraqi Oil Exports Market Destinations           

Section 7- Oil Supplied for Electricity Generation

Section 8- Development Fund for Iraq- DFI                                 

Section 9: Oil and Annual State Budget Laws

Section 10: Oil and Gas in Iraqi Kurdistan Region 

This part has 67 tables and 38 charts. Selected charts representing the main development in the petroleum sector were presented.

I concluded my presentation by emphasising my unwavering support for INMP and call others, particularly the young generation of professionals, to follow suit.

The event lasted more than two hours and was attended by relatively good number of interested individuals, mostly oil and economic professionals among others.^[4]

 

Endnotes

[1] For more information on NewsSocial write to: [email protected] or visit www.newssocial.co.uk

[2] More on Oil related sub-group: https://www.mushtarek.org/groups/679b938b7fd0bd55baff8b70/posts/post/679b98d77fd0bd55baff91c2

[3] https://www.mushtarek.org/groups/5d7defbe7c64690015a46b09/posts/post/68076b09a6cf68a6170c0b98

[4] The full record of the meeting, including my PowerPoint, is accessible through the following link:  https://www.youtube.com/live/7dAyA07HGO8

 

Click here to read the full article in pdf format.

Mr Jiyad is an independent development consultant, scholar and Associate with the former Centre for Global Energy Studies (CGES), London. He was formerly a senior economist with the Iraq National Oil Company and Iraq's Ministry of Oil, Chief Expert for the Council of Ministers, Director at the Ministry of Trade, and International Specialist with UN organizations in Uganda, Sudan and Jordan. He is now based in Norway (Email: mou-jiya(at)online.no, Skype ID: Ahmed Mousa Jiyad). Read more of Mr Jiyad's biography here.

By John Lee.

The Iraqi Council of Ministers has approved key measures to advance major solar energy projects, reinforcing the country's push toward clean and sustainable power generation.

• Firstly, the cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Electricity and US-based UGT Renewables for the development of an integrated solar power project. The Ministries of Planning and Finance are tasked with aligning the project with national development priorities and allocating the necessary funding. The Minister of Electricity has been granted full authority to proceed with implementation.
• Secondly, the Council endorsed the Ministerial Council for Energy's recommendation on pricing and development costs for the 1000 MW Artawi Solar Power Plant, to be developed with France's TotalEnergies. The project is recognised as a strategic component of Iraq's clean energy agenda. The Ministry of Oil has been instructed to fulfil its payment obligations under the power purchase agreements, and the Director General of the State Company for Southern Electricity Production is authorised to sign the contract addendum with the French energy firm.

These approvals mark a significant step in diversifying Iraq's energy sources and reducing its dependence on fossil fuels.

(Source: PMO)

By John Lee.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has officially launched construction on the New Sadr City project in Baghdad.

The project covers 4,000 dunams [400 hectares; 1,000 acres] between the Al-Maamel area and the edge of the existing Sadr City. It will feature 60,000 housing units of various sizes, fully integrated with public services including roads, sanitation, potable water, electricity, and telecommunications.

The city will be structured into 3 sectors, 12 districts, and 52 neighbourhoods, with a central commercial and service hub.

The Prime Minister described the development as a pioneering economic model for Iraq: the government will first implement full infrastructure works, after which private sector developers will construct the residential units. This integrated model is designed to replace substandard, informally developed suburbs and offer high-quality alternatives to residents.

In April, the contract for infrastructure and roads covering 11,000 housing units was awarded to China's state-owned Shandong Hi-Speed Group [Shandong Gaosu Group], with a 1,200-day timeline for completion. According to the Media Office of the Prime Minister, the firm was selected through a competitive process based on strict technical and financial criteria.

Al-Sudani clarified that contrary to public misconceptions, the project does not involve demolishing existing neighbourhoods. Instead, it aims to connect and upgrade old and new urban areas with modern planning and services.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed that housing is a top government priority. He confirmed that work has started on 8 of the 16 new cities approved under the current government programme, and that informal housing residents will be offered viable alternatives.

(Source: PMO)

By John Lee.

Rwanga Foundation has unveiled plans for the Kulak Solar Village, Iraq's first fully off-grid, solar-powered community. Located southeast of Erbil, the pilot village will include 32 homes and house nearly 200 residents, serving as a model for rural climate resilience and energy self-sufficiency in one of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions.

Entirely powered by solar energy, the community will feature 24/7 electricity, solar irrigation systems, and training in regenerative agriculture. The project responds to intensifying environmental pressures in Iraqi Kurdistan, including desertification and extreme temperatures exceeding 50°C.

Idris Nechirvan Barzani, Founder and President of the Foundation, described the initiative as "a bold vision for a different future," turning Iraq's environmental vulnerability into a platform for sustainable innovation.

The village forms part of the Foundation's wider Green Kurdistan campaign, which has planted over 200,000 trees since 2020, and its Empowering Sustainable Livelihoods programme that supports cooperative farming and training.

Rwanga aims to have the Kulak Solar Village fully operational by the end of 2025, with plans to replicate the model across Kurdistan and central Iraq by 2030 in collaboration with regional authorities and international partners.

(Source: Rwanga Foundation)

By John Lee.

Iraq's Ministry of Oil has signed a major contract for the South Basra Integrated Project with a consortium comprising China's Geo-Jade Petroleum and Iraq's Crescent Basra (Hilal Al-Basra).

The agreement, signed on Wednesday marks the Ministry's first adoption of a fully integrated project model.

Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani described the deal as a strategic leap in developing Iraq's oil wealth and supporting the national economy. The project includes:

• Increasing production at Al-Tubba [Tuba] field from 20,000 to 100,000 barrels per day (bpd).
• Constructing a high-specification refinery with a capacity of 200,000 bpd.
• Establishing a petrochemical plant with an annual capacity of 620,000 tonnes.
• Building a fertilizer plant producing 520,000 tonnes annually.
• Developing a thermal power plant generating 650 megawatts.
• Building a 400-megawatt solar power station.

Surplus electricity from the project will be fed into the national grid, contributing to Iraq's energy mix and infrastructure enhancement.

The Minister emphasised the project's role in economic diversification and job creation for thousands of Iraqi workers. The signing ceremony was attended by deputy ministers for distribution, extraction, gas, and refining, along with senior officials from relevant companies and departments, including: Bassem Mohamed Khudair, Deputy Minister for Extraction; Bassem Abdul Karim, Director General of Basra Oil Company (BOC); and Hassan Mohamed Hassan, Director General of the Iraqi Drilling Company (IDC).

The companies signed a Heads of Agreement exactly one year ago.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

By John Lee.

Al-Bilal Group has installed a 2-megawatt solar power station at the Government Palace on Tuesday, signalling the launch of a wider governmental move toward renewable energy.

Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani highlighted the importance of the initiative, which aims to ease the strain on Iraq's national power grid and improve energy distribution to both citizens and industrial facilities. The project forms part of the government's comprehensive strategy to diversify electricity generation sources.

Initial implementation spans five major ministries-Interior, Finance, Oil, Transport, and Planning-with a combined generating capacity of 10.5 megawatts. This rollout contributes to an overall target of 48.5 megawatts in solar energy, intended to alleviate the consumption burden placed on the national grid by government institutions, which currently account for nearly 30% of total electricity demand.

The renewable energy model has also been expanded to:

• The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (30 university sites),
• The Ministry of Education (56 schools),
• The Ministry of Health (54 health centres),
• The Border Ports Commission (8 crossings), with a collective generation of 47 megawatts in the initial phase.

This initiative is a key step in Iraq's energy transition efforts and its broader climate and energy efficiency goals.

(Source: PMO)