Iraq launches large-scale power plant project in Dhi Qar

Iraqi News

21-04-2025

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – In a step that will support Iraq's efforts to increase electricity generation to meet the country's growing energy demand, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani laid the foundation stone on Monday for a giant power plant in the southern Iraqi province of Dhi Qar.
With a planned capacity of around 921 megawatts, the new power plant will run on natural gas, with the potential to eventually implement hydrogen mixing technology, according to Attaqa News.
The project, which is being carried out by German-based Siemens next to the Nasiriyah Thermal Power Station, is a significant project that will raise the standard of energy supply in Iraq's national grid.
The Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Ziyad Ali Fadel, conducted a field visit to the Nasiriyah Thermal Power Station, during which he reviewed the progress of ongoing maintenance work on the first and second units of the station.
During a field visit to the Nasiriyah Thermal Power Station, Iraqi Electricity Minister Ziyad Ali Fadel assessed the status of current maintenance operations on the station's first and second units.
Fadel emphasized that the units must be put into operation before the summer; thus, it is crucial to follow the timeline for finishing maintenance work.
Due to years of damage to power facilities brought on by many wars and conflicts with terrorist groups, Iraq's electricity sector faces many difficulties.
To meet local electricity demands, the Iraqi government has commissioned different foreign corporations, most notably US-based General Electric (GE) and Germany-based Siemens, to construct new power plants and renovate existing power facilities, in addition to initiating renewable energy initiatives.
In addition to announcing plans to construct 11 thermal power plants with a combined capacity of 15,000 megawatts, the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity is in talks with foreign firms to generate an additional 35,000 megawatts of power through different types of power plants.
Next summer, demand for electricity in Iraq is predicted to be about 55,000 megawatts, while output rates might be as high as 29,000 megawatts, leaving a gap of up to 26,000 megawatts.
In less than two years, Iraq's electricity output increased by 40 percent, from around 19,000 megawatts to record output levels of about 27.4 megawatts last summer.