UAE's Masdar, Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power to build 5 solar power plants in Iraq
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The spokesperson for the Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Ahmed Musa, revealed on Thursday that the Iraqi government will sign agreements soon with UAE-based Masdar and Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power to build five solar power plants.
In a statement to the state-run news agency (INA), Musa explained that the Iraqi Electricity Ministry seeks to reach deals with major companies to build solar power plants in a step aiming to diversify Iraq's energy sources and adopt renewable energy, particularly solar energy.
Solar power plants are currently under construction in the Iraqi provinces of Basra, Muthanna, Karbala, Babylon, and Dhi Qar, according to Musa.
The Iraqi official added that ACWA Power will build a 1,000-megawatt solar power plant in the central Iraqi province of Najaf, and Masdar will build four plants with a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts.
Given the country's expanding power demand, the Iraqi government is implementing initiatives to diversify its energy sources and achieve its energy sector sustainability.
In 2023, the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity intended to negotiate contracts with major corporations such as France-based TotalEnergies to build a 1,000-megawatt power plant in Basra and China-based PetroChina to establish another 750-megawatt power plant in Muthanna.
The Iraqi government has approved a proposal to award contracts to specialist businesses to create 7,500 megawatts of solar energy by 2030. These projects are part of a larger national plan that intends to generate 12,000 megawatts of solar energy.
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