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By John Lee.

Iraq's Electricity Ministry has reported a complete halt in Iranian gas supplies to Baghdad, central Iraq, and the Middle Euphrates region for 15 days due to maintenance. This disruption has resulted in a power loss of 5,500 MW.

According to a statement from the Ministry, while Iran was expected to supply 25 million cubic meters of gas per day, only 7 million cubic meters are currently being redirected to southern Iraq.

To mitigate the shortfall, the Ministry said it will collaborate with the Oil Ministry to secure alternative supplies. It also urged citizens to conserve energy during this period until gas supplies are normalised.

It did not say when supplies are expected to resume.

Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quotes a senior offical at the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) as saying that the commitment to export gas from Iran to Iraq is proceeding as planned.

Gholamreza Kooshki, Head of NIGC's Dispatching Department, reportedly said that following an agreement between Iran and Iraq, one of the exchange points was temporarily disconnected for periodic overhauls, with commitments being fulfilled through the second point.

He said that on 24th November, after completing the maintenance at the first station, gas flow was restored and the second station was subsequently taken out of service to undergo major overhauls.

(Sources: Ministry of Electricity, IRNA)

By John Lee.

The Deputy Minister of Oil for Gas Affairs, Mr. Ezzat Saber Ismail, announced that North Gas Company's investment in associated gas has reached 410 million standard cubic feet (MMSCF).

During his field supervision of scheduled maintenance at the NGC facilities in Kirkuk, Mr. Ismail said the company is producing around 410 MMSCF of associated gas, with 380 MMSCF allocated as dry gas for the national electricity grid and local industrial facilities.

Additionally, the company produces 1,100 tons of liquid gas daily to supply local markets, nearby provinces, and as fuel for vehicles with liquid gas systems or for cooking.

The maintenance work on production line 1000 began on October 25 and is scheduled to conclude by the end of this month, with line 2000 remaining operational during this period.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

By John Lee.

Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani chaired a meeting of the Higher Committee for Restructuring State-Owned Public Companies on Sunday, to assess the restructuring of state-owned public companies.

The meeting was attended by key ministers from departments such as Oil, Electricity, Transportation, Trade, Construction Housing Municipalities and Public Works, Agriculture, Water Resources, and Communications.

It reviewed actions taken on previous resolutions, focusing on liquidation processes for specific public companies and evaluating mechanisms for their dissolution.

Key discussions included potential mergers of Ministry of Trade companies, reclassification of Ministry of Water Resources entities, and progress on restructuring companies within the Ministry of Construction, Housing, and Public Works, including Hammurabi, Ashur, Al-Faw, and Al-Farouq.

(Source: PMO)

By John Lee.

Dr. Haider Mohammed Makiyya (pictured), Chairman of Iraq's National Investment Commission (NIC), has announced the country's first "Real Estate Developer" program aimed at providing affordable serviced residential plots for citizens, in partnership with the private sector.

According to a statement from the NIC, this initiative aligns with government plans to alleviate the housing shortage through comprehensive housing developments that integrate economic, service, and commercial facilities. The program enables low- to middle-income citizens to acquire residential land equipped with infrastructure such as roads, water, sewage, and electricity.

The initiative also includes the development of a 1,500-dunum site in Nahrawan, Baghdad, designated for eligible citizens. The National Investment Commission aims to attract investors capable of contributing to Iraq's productive economy rather than projects that only consume resources.

(Source: NIC)

By John Lee.

Iraq's Ministry of Electricity and US-based GE Vernova has announced the completion of five key substations ahead of schedule.

According to a statement from GE Vernova, rhe five substations-Al Hindia, Al Sader, Al Qaim Saada, North Baqubah, and Yaramja South-will support more stable electricity distribution across Iraq. North Baqubah and Yaramja South were completed six months early, in August and September 2024, respectively.

Four additional substations, North Najaf, North Karbala, North Diwaniya and Aredo, are scheduled for completion by summer of 2025.

Upon full project completion, Iraq's grid capacity will increase by 2,200 MVA, enough to power approximately 300,000 households, benefiting around 1 million people.

(Source: GE Vernova)

By John Lee.

QatarEnergy is to take a 50-percent stake in the TotalEnergies solar energy project in Iraq:

• Partnership Agreement: QatarEnergy has signed an agreement with TotalEnergies for a solar power project in Iraq as part of the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP).
• Stake Distribution: QatarEnergy will acquire a 50% stake in the project, with TotalEnergies holding the other 50%.
• Project Scale: This large-scale project, using 2 million bifacial solar panels on single-axis trackers, will generate up to 1.25 gigawatts (GW) of solar power.
• Electricity Supply: Upon completion, it will supply power to around 350,000 homes in the Basra region, with phased completion between 2025 and 2027.
• Statements: Qatar's Minister of State for Energy Affairs expressed optimism about contributing to Iraq's solar power sector alongside TotalEnergies.
• Broader GGIP Role: QatarEnergy joined a consortium in June 2023, with a 25% stake, to implement the GGIP in Iraq, which also includes capturing flared gas for power generation.

Full statement from QatarEnergy:

QatarEnergy has signed a partnership agreement with TotalEnergies to enter into a solar power project that is part of the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) in the Republic of Iraq.

Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, which is subject to regulatory approvals, QatarEnergy will acquire a 50% interest in the solar photovoltaic project, while TotalEnergies will retain the remaining 50%.

This strategic project, which will be one of the largest in the world, will consist of 2 million high-efficiency bifacial solar panels mounted on single-axis trackers and will, upon its completion, be capable of supplying up to 1.25 gigawatts (peak) of solar-generated power to the electricity grid in the Basra region of Iraq. The project will be developed in phases that will come online between 2025 and 2027 and will have the capacity to provide electricity to about 350,000 homes in the Basra region.

Commenting on this occasion, His Excellency Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy, said: "I am pleased to have concluded our entry into this very important project for Iraq's energy sector, and look forward to working with our strategic partner, TotalEnergies, to progress it to fruition. We thank the Iraqi government for their trust, and TotalEnergies for this opportunity to support Iraq's solar power development."

QatarEnergy announced in June 2023 that it had entered into a consortium to implement the Gas Growth Integrated Project in Iraq, with a 25% participating interest, together with TotalEnergies (45%) and Iraq's Basra Oil Company (30%).

GGIP is a key strategic project that involves the design and construction of facilities to develop Iraq's natural resources in addition to recovering significant volumes of otherwise flared gas throughout the Basra region to supply power generation plants.

(Source: QatarEnergy)

By John Lee.

Iraq's Prime Minister, Mohammed S. Al-Sudani, held a meeting on Monday, with Mr. Ahmed ElSewedy, Chairman of Egypt's ElSewedy Group, and a group of Egyptian industrial and commercial company directors, with several of the Prime Minister's advisers.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized the expanding economic cooperation between Iraq and Egypt, especially in partnerships with the Egyptian private sector. He noted that the investment opportunities available in Iraq, received from Arab and international companies, exceed $100 billion, showcasing significant economic growth across various sectors.

The discussions with the Egyptian delegation included reviewing the economic and financial model of the group, along with collaboration in sectors such as industry, education, energy, and infrastructure. They also explored investment opportunities and partnerships in the fields of petroleum resource enhancement, localization of power transformer manufacturing, smart meters linked to the electricity grid, and the production of carbon steel.

An agreement was reached to study the establishment of industrial cities in Baghdad, with the group presenting a project roadmap that will be reviewed by the Prime Minister Advisory Commission and relevant Iraqi government agencies.

(Source: PMO)

By John Lee.

Iraq's Minister of Electricity, Eng. Ziad Ali Fadel, has signed a significant agreement with Turkmenistan to secure gas supplies for Iraq's power stations.

The deal, signed by Iraq's Minister of Electricity and Turkmenistan's Minister of State for Gas Affairs, Maksat Babayev, aims to diversify gas sources and ensure a steady fuel supply for electricity production.

The agreement finalizes pricing, supply quantities, and logistics after extensive negotiations. Both parties expressed optimism about strengthening energy cooperation and expanding economic ties.

More details on the deal here.

(Source: Ministry of Electricity)

By John Lee.

Iraq's Minister of Electricity, Ziyad Ali Fadel, chaired a strategic meeting with representatives from the Turkish Union of Companies and Contractors to advance cooperation in the electricity sector, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Turkish president's visit to Iraq.

The meeting focused on joint efforts to enhance electricity production, transmission, and distribution, including renewable energy projects and regional grid connections.

Minister Fadel emphasized Iraq's commitment to fostering partnerships with Turkey, particularly in upgrading energy infrastructure and leveraging natural gas resources.

The Turkish delegation expressed eagerness to compete in Iraq's energy projects, citing their extensive experience across 137 countries and pledging to contribute to Iraq's energy sector development.

(Source: Ministry of Electricity)

From Rudaw. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Iraq buys 900 MW of power from Kurdistan Region daily: Ministry

Iraq's electricity ministry on Sunday said it buys 900 megawatts of electricity daily from the Kurdistan Region, amid lower power production due to decreased gas imports from Iran.

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