Iran re-agrees to supply Iraq with 1,000 MW of electricity

08-03-2018
Rudaw
Tags: electricity Iraq-Iran
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Iraqi government renewed a contract to receive electricity from Iran for an additional year, according to a statement from the Iraqi electricity ministry.

The decree was announced after a meeting between Iraq’s Minister of Electricity Qassim Mohammad al-Fahdawi and a delegation from Tehran headed by Mohammad Shariatmadari, the minister of Industry and Commerce, the announcement read on Wednesday.

Iran has been supplying parts of Iraq with electricity for the past several years and this has reduced the electricity crisis in some cities, specifically the neighboring cities of Iran, Shariatmadari said, according to FARS news agency.

Through four major supply lines, Iran sends 1,000 megawatts of electricity to Iraq.

The two sides also discussed other ways of cooperation in the field and a push towards strengthening their relationships to serve both power grids.

Shariatmadari added that Iran works to provide electricity through "the most modern technologies."

He explained that 80 percent of Iran's electricity is generated in traditional methods and the remaining 20 through hydro, solar, and wind energies.

Iran has signed agreements with companies from 160 different countries, according to Shariatmadari.

Iranian First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri also visited Baghdad on Wednesday.

Electricity supply does not meet demand in war-torn Iraq. Supply is highly dependent on location. In the cities, the government provides around 10 hours of electricity per day. Locals rely on home or neighborhood diesel or gasoline powered generators to meet their needs.

Iraq and Iran are engaged in deepening oil and energy ties as both sides are currently engaged in talks to export Kirkuk oil in exchange for Iranian exports to southern Iraq.

Oil-rich Kirkuk province came under Iraqi federal control in October 2017 when Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitaries in Iraq and the Iraqi army gained control of the city and its oil fields.

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