PM Barzani opens new electricity generation station in Sulaimani
BAZIAN, Kurdistan Region – KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani opened an electricity generation station in Sulaimani province that will add a potential 400kV to the strained Kurdistan Region grid.
“We acknowledge that there is a serious issue regarding electricity,” he said at the opening on Sunday, pointing to the financial crisis and the war against ISIS, which delayed the project.
“The government will take steps in all sectors as per its capacity,” he promised, thanking people for their “patience” while the KRG worked to overcome the financial crisis.
The Kurdistan Region and Iraq have chronic electricity shortages. Lack of regular electricity during the sweltering summer months is one of the factors that have brought thousands of protesters into the streets of southern Iraq.
The new power station is located in Bazian, just outside of Sulaimani city and will boost supplies throughout the Kurdistan Region.
The $63 million dollar project was built in cooperation with Korea National Oil Corporation.
It is one of seven power stations planned by the government, but delayed due to funding.
“Only two of them were completed,” Mohammed Omer, manager of the stations in Bazian and Khabat, Erbil, told Rudaw.
There are currently nine power stations producing electricity in the Kurdistan Region. Five run on natural gas, accounting for nearly 84 percent of the national electricity supply. Two of the stations run on crude oil and the final two operate on hydropower.
People of the Kurdistan Region depend on private generators to supplement the national supply.
“Pressure on the electricity supply is one reason behind the wasting of this important energy. However, with the completion of these projects, less electricity will be wasted. And this will have a direct impact on increasing the hours electricity is supplied,” said Omed Ahmad, director general of electricity control in the Kurdistan Region.
“We acknowledge that there is a serious issue regarding electricity,” he said at the opening on Sunday, pointing to the financial crisis and the war against ISIS, which delayed the project.
“The government will take steps in all sectors as per its capacity,” he promised, thanking people for their “patience” while the KRG worked to overcome the financial crisis.
The Kurdistan Region and Iraq have chronic electricity shortages. Lack of regular electricity during the sweltering summer months is one of the factors that have brought thousands of protesters into the streets of southern Iraq.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi suspended his electricity minister on Sunday.
The new power station is located in Bazian, just outside of Sulaimani city and will boost supplies throughout the Kurdistan Region.
The $63 million dollar project was built in cooperation with Korea National Oil Corporation.
It is one of seven power stations planned by the government, but delayed due to funding.
“Only two of them were completed,” Mohammed Omer, manager of the stations in Bazian and Khabat, Erbil, told Rudaw.
There are currently nine power stations producing electricity in the Kurdistan Region. Five run on natural gas, accounting for nearly 84 percent of the national electricity supply. Two of the stations run on crude oil and the final two operate on hydropower.
People of the Kurdistan Region depend on private generators to supplement the national supply.
“Pressure on the electricity supply is one reason behind the wasting of this important energy. However, with the completion of these projects, less electricity will be wasted. And this will have a direct impact on increasing the hours electricity is supplied,” said Omed Ahmad, director general of electricity control in the Kurdistan Region.