5 days ago
PM Al Sudani opens Mosul Airport, launches major refinery and power projects in Nineveh
Nineveh ( – Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani launched a trio of strategic projects in Nineveh governorate on Wednesday (July 16, 2025), including the official inauguration of Mosul International Airport and the commencement of construction on a major new oil refinery and a significant power plant expansion. The visit underscores the government's focus on developing vital infrastructure and boosting the industrial capacity of a region heavily impacted by past conflicts.
During his visit, the Prime Minister launched the executive works for the new Nineveh Refinery in the Hammam Al-Alil sub-district. The facility, to be built on an 800-dunam site, will have a refining capacity of 70,000 barrels per day (bpd). It is designed to produce key products like fuel oil (32,000 bpd), naphtha (15,000 bpd), and diesel (12,600 bpd), aiming to cover the needs of Iraq's northern governorates and create approximately 1,000 direct jobs.
Al-Sudani also kicked off the expansion of the Qayyarah Combined-Cycle Power Plant. This project will add 375 megawatts (MW) of new capacity by utilizing exhaust gases from the existing simple-cycle units, bringing the station's total output to 1,125 MW. The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of combined-cycle technology for its dual benefits of boosting power generation efficiently while adhering to environmental standards.
These projects are a cornerstone of the government's strategy to increase domestic industrial output and achieve self-sufficiency. PM Al-Sudani stated that his government has successfully managed to divert nearly 40% of Iraq's crude oil production into downstream refining and manufacturing industries—a target originally planned for the next decade that has been surpassed in just two and a half years. He noted that when his government took office, Iraq was spending 6 trillion IQD annually on importing refined fuel products despite being a major oil producer.
In a highly anticipated moment for the region, the Prime Minister also officially inaugurated Mosul International Airport, marking its return to service. The reopening of the airport is a critical step in reconnecting Nineveh with the rest of Iraq and the world, expected to be a major catalyst for economic growth, investment, and tourism in the province. The combination of these three strategic projects signals a new chapter of reconstruction and development for Nineveh.
