ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi government officials said on Saturday that gas imports from Iran are continuing despite the expiration of a waiver from the United States, adding that they have alternative plans prepared in case the gas supply is cut off.
“Until today, we have not received any notification regarding the end of the US exemption for importing Iranian gas and imports continue,” Ahmed Musa, a spokesperson for the Electricity Ministry, told Rudaw.
In addition, “1,000 megawatts of electricity are imported from Iran through four transmission lines,” he said.
The most recent 120-day waiver, issued by former US President Joe Biden to allow Iraq to import Iranian gas without running afoul of sanctions, expired on Saturday. Biden’s successor, Donald Trump, announced in early February that he would not renew the waiver as part of his "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran.
According to Musa, the government is working to obtain a new exemption from the US.
Baghdad is prepared in case no extension is given.
“We have prepared the necessary plans and measures for the possibility of not renewing the exemption for importing gas from Iran,” Iraqi government spokesperson Basim al-Awadi told Rudaw.
Iraq is largely dependent on its energy imports from Iran, though the supply is irregular. Iran suspended gas exports for weeks during the winter when it had a shortage.
Iran has taken several measures to improve its storage and management that have allowed it to meet its commitments to Iraq and Turkey, the oil ministry’s official news site Shana stated in late February.
Earlier this week, Iraqi Electricity Minister Ziad Ali traveled to Tehran to meet with Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad. “The meeting highlighted the importance of increased collaboration and partnership in oil, gas, petrochemicals, and electricity as key areas for mutual development,” Shana stated.
To protect and strengthen its energy sectors, Baghdad is also working to direct its own natural gas to power generation plants and ending the damaging practice of flaring, is looking for other import options such as Jordan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan, and is boosting its renewable sources.
Iraq is constructing a 1,000-megawatt solar project in Basra with France’s TotalEnergies, has agreements with Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power for a 1,000-megawatt plant in Najaf, and is close to a deal with the UAE’s Masdar for another 1,000 megawatts across four provinces, according to Musa.
