Iraq faces an electricity shortage as the US ends a sanctions waiver for importing Iranian electricity. The government plans to enhance energy independence through various projects, including gas imports, linking power stations, and agreements with international firms for gas and renewable energy development amidst US sanctions pressure.
Iraq is urgently addressing its expected electricity shortfall this summer after the US declined to renew a waiver allowing it to import electricity from Iran amidst sanctions. The US withdrawal is part of its campaign aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities and its support for terrorism, as stated by the US embassy in Baghdad. The US has pressured Iraq to reduce its reliance on Iranian energy sources, but Iraq currently depends on Iran for approximately one-third of its electricity requirements.
In light of these developments, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani convened a meeting shortly after the US announcement to strategize on bolstering electricity supply and advancing ongoing gas reserve projects. Significant initiatives include linking power stations to gas sources and installing floating gas import platforms, which Iraqi Electricity Ministry spokesman Ahmed Moussa considers a crucial achievement for importing gas from alternative countries.
Minister of Electricity, Ziad Ali Fadel, outlined a comprehensive plan for securing electricity supply and fuel station operations. Concurrently, Minister of Oil Hayan Abdul Ghani presented the ministry’s strategy for ensuring fuel availability for power plants, including floating and mobile gas platforms. Iraq aims to finalize a contract with Turkmenistan for gas imports and has also begun importing electricity from Jordan via a 340km line.
Additionally, Iraq is preparing to connect to the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) power grid by the end of the year. Amid these discussions, US Charge d’Affaires Daniel Rubinstein met with Iraqi Parliament officials to address the effects of US sanctions on the electricity sector, clarifying that importing natural gas remains unaffected by these sanctions.
Iran has criticized the US’s decision to end the sanctions waiver, labeling it as illegal and ascribed to crimes against humanity, asserting that the US sanctions lack legal justification. Since 2018, Iraq has sought to lessen its dependency on Iranian energy while actively developing its domestic gas resources.
Recent initiatives have included signing agreements to enhance natural gas production, such as with Ukrainian company Ukrzemresurs to scale up output from the Akkas gas field, and striking contracts with French company TotalEnergies for multi-billion dollar energy projects, including solar power developments.
Iraq is striving to secure its energy supply amidst US sanctions that limit its access to Iranian electricity. The Iraqi government is implementing numerous projects to enhance energy independence, including the development of local gas reserves and diversifying energy sources through imports from Jordan and future connections to the GCC power grid. Despite resistance from Iran regarding the sanctions, Iraq continues to pursue strategies aimed at reducing its dependency on Iranian imports.
Original Source: www.thenationalnews.com
