Iraq to produce additional 38,000 megawatts of electricity
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Ziyad Ali Fadel, confirmed on Thursday that the agreements Iraq signed with Siemens and General Electric (GE) will increase Iraq's current electrical output by 38,000 megawatts.
Fadel indicated that Germany-based Siemens will construct new power plants with a capacity of 14,000 megawatts after the third phase of the energy cooperation deal was signed Thursday, according to a statement cited by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
The CEO of Siemens Energy, Christian Bruch, revealed that the company is prepared to grow its operations in Iraq, noting that all of the Siemens-implemented power plant units were finished earlier than expected this year, demonstrating the company's dedication to the growth of the Iraqi electricity industry.
Siemens' new power plants would use locally produced fuel and combined-cycle technology, allowing energy to be generated without the need for extra fuel, according to Fadel.
The electricity minister pointed out that new electricity projects carried out by major foreign businesses in Iraq will generate electrical energy surpassing the country's current capacity of 28,000 megawatts.
It is anticipated that the new electrical projects would help close the gap in rising demand, particularly during the summer months when usage peaks.
On April 9, GE Vernova and the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) covering proposals for combined-cycle gas-fired power plants with a capacity of approximately 24,000 megawatts.
With the potential to get funding from foreign institutions, the MoU with General Electric (GE) is the largest and most comprehensive electrical agreement in Iraq's history, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
The deal covers the building of new power plants to boost electricity production as well as maintaining and improving the operation of current ones.
The largest electricity contract in Iraq's history marks a step forward in the Baghdad government's attempts to fulfill the country's growing energy demand.
Over the next four years, the US company plans to carry out initiatives in three stages, which include enhancing the efficiency of current generating units and implementing cutting-edge technology to boost output without requiring more fuel.
The Iraqi government also sponsored another MoU between the Electricity Ministry and UGT Renewables to develop an integrated solar energy project with a 3,000 megawatt capacity and battery storage systems capable of 500 megawatts per hour.
The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity aims to produce 12,000 megawatts of solar energy by 2030.
As part of the Iraqi government's goal for a more sustainable and safe energy future, the new agreements are anticipated to help stabilize electricity supply and lessen dependency on imports.
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