Latest news with #ArtawiSolarPowerPlant
Iraq Business
3 days ago
- Business
- Iraq Business
Iraqi Cabinet Approves 2 Solar Energy Projects
By John Lee. The Iraqi Council of Ministers has approved key measures to advance major solar energy projects, reinforcing the country's push toward clean and sustainable power generation. Firstly, the cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Electricity and US-based UGT Renewables for the development of an integrated solar power project. The Ministries of Planning and Finance are tasked with aligning the project with national development priorities and allocating the necessary funding. The Minister of Electricity has been granted full authority to proceed with implementation. for the development of an integrated solar power project. The Ministries of Planning and Finance are tasked with aligning the project with national development priorities and allocating the necessary funding. The Minister of Electricity has been granted full authority to proceed with implementation. Secondly, the Council endorsed the Ministerial Council for Energy's recommendation on pricing and development costs for the 1000 MW Artawi Solar Power Plant, to be developed with France's TotalEnergies. The project is recognised as a strategic component of Iraq's clean energy agenda. The Ministry of Oil has been instructed to fulfil its payment obligations under the power purchase agreements, and the Director General of the State Company for Southern Electricity Production is authorised to sign the contract addendum with the French energy firm. These approvals mark a significant step in diversifying Iraq's energy sources and reducing its dependence on fossil fuels. (Source: PMO) Tags: Artawi, cg, clean energy, Electricity In Iraq, featured, Ministry of Electricity, Ratawi, solar energy, solar power, State Company for Southern Electricity Production, TotalEnergies, UGT Renewables, United States
Iraqi News
5 days ago
- Business
- Iraqi News
The Cabinets hold the 21st regular session, decisions included
The Cabinet held the 21st regular session on Tuesday chaired by PM Muhammed S. Al-Sudani during which the latest developments and public affairs in the country were reviewed, along with several important files and issues. The Cabinet approved the recommendations of Diwani Order Committee No. 7 of 2025 concerning the violations documented in the investigation report of the Federal Commission of Integrity, dated July 4, 2024, related to the railway investment file and associated contracts, according to a statement by the PM's Media Office - received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA. Based on the committee's findings, the Cabinet decided to dismiss the following officials for failing to fulfill their assigned duties: • Yaqoub Hussein Salem, Director General of the Legal Department at the Ministry of Transportation. • Abbas Nasser Majid, Director General of the Contracts and Licensing Department at the Ministry of Transportation. The report was also referred to the Federal Commission of Integrity to complete the legal procedures before the court. The Cabinet approved allowing the PM's Office to proceed with implementing the projects under Phase Two of the 'More Beautiful Baghdad' campaign, taking into account the comments presented during the session, which were approved by the Prime Minister. In the electricity sector, the Cabinet amended its Decision No. (346 of 2025), to approve contracting with the Turkish company as part of the Iraqi-Turkish power line 400 kV, for one year. The Ministry of Finance will provide the necessary allocations to ensure electricity supply to the northern region. The contract will be renegotiated after October 1, 2025, by a committee comprising representatives from the PM's Office, the Ministry of Electricity, and company KBR. The Cabinet also approved the continuation of solar energy projects, as follows: 1. Approval of the memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Electricity and UGT RENEWABLES to develop an integrated solar power project. The Ministries of Planning and Finance are to include the projects in line with national priorities and allocate the necessary funding. The Minister of Electricity was granted the required authority to proceed. 2. Approval of the Ministerial Council for Energy's recommendation regarding pricing and development costs for the 1000 MW Artawi Solar Power Plant project with TotalEnergies, as it is considered a strategic clean energy project. The Ministry of Oil is to fulfill its payment obligations under the signed power purchase agreements. The Director General of the State Company for Southern Electricity Production is authorized to sign the contract addendum with the French company. In the context of completing infrastructure and stalled projects, the Cabinet approved the following: 1. Increase the total cost for the Al-Husseiniya Concrete Bridge over the Tigris River project. 2. Increase the total cost and contingency amount for the two-way entrance of Al-Ahrar and Al-Ahrar Bridge project (Kut–Baghdad road). 3. Add a component for completing the Basra Provincial Council Building and increase the cost value of the main project. 4. Increase the total cost value for two Basra projects: infrastructure for 17 central districts, and rehabilitation of infrastructure in the Oil Housing area behind the Oil Cultural Center. 5. Increase the cost value of the Ninawa Ring Road Project and the Seventh Bridge. The Cabinet also reviewed border crossings and amended Decision No. (24187 of 2024), as modified by Decision No. (24266 of 2024), to exempt contracts related to Zurbatiya Border Crossing from procurement regulations, enabling the execution to proceed by transferring responsibilities from the main contractor to the subcontractor. The Cabinet approved a request by the Ministry of Health to lift the ban on importing electronic cigarettes, electronic hookahs, and tobacco products, subject to compliance with the Anti-Smoking Law (No. 19 of 2012). The Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control will issue relevant technical standards, the Iraqi Customs Authority will price these goods for customs duties, and commercial attachés abroad will authenticate certificates of origin and invoices for such goods for integration into the national system, thereby eliminating the need for secondary verification. Additional decisions made by the Cabinet include: 1. Amending Decision No. (245 of 2019) to authorize branch directors of the State Properties Department in the provinces to allocate Ministry of Finance-owned land and sign investment contracts after obtaining ministerial approval. 2. Approving the payment of $1 million to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) from the 2025 foreign contributions budget. In the field of international cooperation and peaceful nuclear energy, the Cabinet authorized the Chairman of the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission to negotiate and sign a draft cooperation agreement between Iraq and the Russian Federation on the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, by the Constitution. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to prepare the necessary documents for approval by the Prime Minister.
