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By John Lee.

The Ministry of Electricity has launched the first phase of its smart transformation and electronic billing project, covering selected areas of Baghdad and several provinces.

The Ministry said the areas included in the initial phase were chosen following studies of electricity networks, loads, feeders, and subscriber data.

According to a Ministry spokesperson, the project aims to improve load management, rationalise daily electricity consumption, reduce losses and waste, and enable the electronic collection of electricity payments.

The first phase includes:

• Installation of smart meters in selected areas of Baghdad and other provinces
• Electronic collection of electricity charges
• Improved control and organisation of high electrical loads

The Ministry said additional phases of the smart transformation project will be launched sequentially. Consumers were encouraged to adopt electronic payment methods for settling electricity bills, noting that a pre-emptive plan has already been developed to regulate loads and collection processes.

The spokesperson added that electronic billing will reduce time and effort, limit cash handling, prevent incorrect meter readings, reduce pressure on the national grid, and support more efficient electricity consumption through accurate digital calculation and payment.

(Source: Ministry of Electricity)

By John Lee.

State-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) reports that plans have been announced to develop clean energy power plants in Baghdad, Basra and Nineveh.

It quotes the regional director of Shanghai (sic) as saying that the already-announced Nahrawan project in Baghdad will convert 5,000 tonnes of waste per day into 110MW of electricity, with construction to begin later this year. (In March 2025, the Prime Minister's Office said work had started on the project, which was awarded to the Chinese company Shanghai SUS Environment.)

It added that plans are also in place for similar projects in Nineveh and Basra, and in the Abu Ghraib area of Baghdad.

(Source: INA)

By John Lee.

The Ministry of Electricity is moving to deepen its strategic partnership with General Electric (GE) of the United States, as part of plans to add up to 24,000 megawatts of new generation capacity and strengthen the national power system.

The Director General of the Planning and Studies Department, Hussein Badr, chaired a meeting at the ministry with a GE delegation to review cooperation and follow up on projects under the first phase of the strategic agreement. Discussions focused on including the initial tranche of new generation projects in the 2026 federal budget, recognising them as vital to supporting and modernising electricity infrastructure.

The meeting reviewed proposed first-phase power stations, financial close procedures, project locations and fuel requirements, as well as the need to adhere to approved specifications and timelines. The projects under review include Mansouriya II, Hawija, the combined-cycle plants in Dhi Qar and Samawah, and the expansion of the Musayib gas power station.

Mr Badr said cooperation with GE is a cornerstone of the ministry's long-term strategy to expand generation capacity and achieve sustainable stability, stressing the importance of accelerating technical and administrative procedures and removing obstacles to ensure delivery to global standards.

For its part, the GE delegation reaffirmed its full commitment to supporting Iraq's electricity plans, including implementation of the agreed projects and associated maintenance and rehabilitation programmes using advanced technologies.

(Source: Ministry of Electricity)

By John Lee.

The Deputy Prime Minister for Energy and Minister of Oil, Hayan Abdul Ghani Al-Sawad, has formally assumed his duties as Acting Minister of Electricity, following an official mandate from the Council of Ministers.

He replaces Ziyad Ali Fadhil [Fadel], who has taken up his seat as a member of parliament. According to Article 49 of the Iraqi Constitution: "It is not permissible to combine membership in the Council of Representatives with any work or other official position."

After taking up the post, Mr Al-Sawad held a meeting with senior officials at the Ministry of Electricity to review ongoing work and to assess current electricity generation and distribution operations.

(Sources: Ministry of Oil / Ministry of Electricity / NINA)

From the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Since January 2024, the Funding Facility for Stabilisation (FFS) project has been in a Transition Phase (2024-2026), consolidating nearly a decade of stabilisation gains across the five liberated governorates of Iraq - Anbar, Ninewa, Salah al-Din, Kirkuk, and Diyala. During this phase, UNDP has prioritised the completion, handover, and operationalisation of key health, education, water, and electricity infrastructure, benefiting millions of people across the five liberated areas.

UNDP is also focusing on sustaining results through strengthened institutional capacity, enhanced operation and maintenance systems, and increased local ownership, while expanding social cohesion and economic revitalisation initiatives that bridge stabilisation with long-term recovery.

In quarter three (Q3) 2025, the FFS project completed two projects: rehabilitation of Yathrib's delivery and emergency units and equipping Diyala Vocational Training Center, bringing the total to 3,447 completed projects. UNDP also trained 811 government employees (including 140 women) across five governorates, which strengthened the capacity of government staff involved in operating and maintaining various assets, including both machinery and facilities.

This improved service delivery and asset sustainability, specifically at the Olive Oil Factory in Hawija-Kirkuk governorate and Tikrit Teaching Hospital in Salah al-Din.

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By John Lee.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani opened the Iraq Energy Conference 2026 in Baghdad on Wednesday, emphasising in his keynote speech:

• Target to export 40% of oil output as higher-value derivative products by 2030
• Expansion of refining capacity and cooperation with the private sector to end fuel imports
• Utilisation of 74% of Iraq's gas resources to date
• Confirmed free natural gas reserves approaching 132 million standard cubic feet
• Commitment to end environmentally harmful gas flaring by 2028
• Electricity generation capacity reaching nearly 29,000 megawatts
• Completion of a more efficient national transmission and distribution network
• Plans for new power stations totalling 57,500 megawatts, including 34 plants with GE and Siemens
• Launch of 15 solar power projects targeting 7,500 megawatts across several provinces
• Development of clean energy, water resource governance, and green economy projects

The conference also highlighted Iraq's role in regional energy cooperation, the importance of digital transformation in the energy sector, and the risks posed by regional instability to global energy markets.

(Source: PMO)

By John Lee.

Long-term gas sales agreements have been signed to supply natural gas from the Chemchemal field to major industrial consumers in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The agreements were announced by Dana Gas PJSC and Crescent Petroleum, together with their partners in the Pearl Petroleum Consortium. They provide for the supply of up to 142 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) of gas to cement and steel producers for a period of 10 years, starting in the second half of 2027, when production from the Chemchemal field is scheduled to begin.

The gas will be delivered to industrial users in Erbil and Bazian through new private-sector pipelines, including a dedicated 40-kilometre pipeline linking the Chemchemal field directly to the Bazian industrial area.

The gas sales agreements were signed with the following industrial customers:

• Mass Cement
• Bazian Cement
• Delta Cement
• Gasin Cement
• Sulaimani Cement
• Van Steel Company

The cement producers are located in the Bazian industrial area of Sulaymaniyah province, while Van Steel Company operates in Erbil governorate.

Earlier in 2025, the Pearl Petroleum partners began appraisal activities of the Chemchemal Cretaceous reservoir. The consortium has committed USD 160 million to drill three wells, install an extended well test facility, and build associated infrastructure to support a future full-field development phase.

The Chemchemal project follows the completion of the Khor Mor 250 gas expansion project in October 2025, which added 250 MMscf/d of processing capacity and increased total capacity to 750 MMscf/d. The Khor Mor gas plant supplies more than 80% of the Kurdistan Region's electricity generation and has attracted cumulative investment exceeding USD 3.5 billion.

(Source: Dana Gas)

By John Lee.

The Missan Oil Company has increased volumes of processed gas from the Halfaya field, with the Halfaya Gas Receiving Station (GRS) now receiving and processing up to 190 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd).

In a statement to the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), the company said the facility has undergone significant development since its construction in 2012, becoming a key supplier of processed gas to power generation plants. National management assumed full operational control of the station in 2014 following the handover from PetroChina.

The company highlighted a series of expansion works, including the construction of the GRS2 station, infrastructure upgrades to handle all gas produced from the Halfaya field, and the installation of sludge catcher equipment to improve supply efficiency in line with the requirements of the Ministry of Electricity and the Maysan investment power plant.

Since mid-2024, the Gas Processing Plant (GPP) has been operational, enabling the station to process between 180 and 190 million standard cubic feet per day. The gas undergoes multiple treatment stages, including condensate removal and heating to ensure operational readiness.

The processed gas supplies the Amarah gas power plant and the Maysan investment power plant, supporting electricity generation of between 1,300 and 1,400 megawatts. The company said this reflects coordination between production, engineering, health and safety, and metering teams to ensure reliable supply and accurate accounting.

(Source: Iraqi News Agency)

By John Lee.

This year's Iraq Energy Exhibition and Conference was held in Baghdad from 10th to 12th January, at the Baghdad International Fairgrounds.

The event brought together stakeholders from the electricity, oil, gas and renewable energy sectors, and reflects growing regional and international interest in Iraq's energy market and investment opportunities.

According to the Ministry of Electricity, the exhibition highlights ongoing and planned developments across the power sector, including generation, transmission and diversification of energy sources.

Key features of the current edition include:

• More than 450 local and international companies participating
• Representation from 16 countries
• Coverage of electricity, oil, gas and renewable energy technologies

He added that the Ministry of Electricity has launched new production and investment projects with a capacity of approximately 15,000 megawatts, and signed strategic agreements with international companies to construct new power plants with a capacity of 48,000 megawatts.

The conference provides a platform for cooperation and strategic partnerships between government entities and international companies, as well as showcasing advanced technologies and solutions for energy production, transmission and distribution, in support of Iraq's infrastructure development plans.

(Source: Ministry of Electricity)

By John Lee.

Plans are being advanced to deploy fast-track, smart solar energy projects to support electricity supply in the outskirts of Baghdad and across the provinces.

The projects will be connected to medium-voltage distribution lines to reduce losses, ease network loads and increase available generation capacity ahead of the summer peak period.

Key elements discussed include:

• Deployment of smart solar solutions in Baghdad's outskirts and other governorates.
• Connection to medium-voltage networks to improve efficiency and reduce strain on the national grid.
• Preparation of investment opportunities following the identification of more than 120 sites nationwide.
• An economic model based on submitted proposals with competitive implementation costs.

The initiative aims to reduce pressure on the national electricity network and address supply shortfalls. Coordination will be carried out between the National Team for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects and the Higher Committee for Coordination between Provinces, including follow-up meetings with provincial governors to agree implementation mechanisms.

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani, with attendance from senior officials, advisers and representatives involved in energy and provincial coordination.

(Source: PMO)