Latest news with #Fadel


Iraqi News
25-05-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq seeks to accelerate gas supplies from Turkmenistan
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Ziyad Ali Fadel, arrived in Turkmenistan on Sunday to discuss accelerating gas supplies to Iraq. According to a statement released by the Electricity Ministry, Fadel's visit to Turkmenistan aims to speed the fulfillment of a gas supply contract with Iraq. Iraq signed a memorandum of understanding in 2023 with Turkmenistan to import the gas it needs to operate its power plants, according to the Ministry of Electricity, which indicated that the step requires additional negotiations related to the mechanism of transporting gas through Iran. Power plants in Iraq depend on gas imports from Iran, which cover one-third of the country's energy needs. Fadel previously stated that Iraq will receive gas from Turkmenistan via the pipeline network in Iran, which is connected to Iraq and will ultimately supply the power plants in the country. The agreement will enable the transportation of Turkmen gas to Iraq through Iran over a five-year period. Iraq has reportedly completed all the necessary requirements to begin importing gas from Turkmenistan in January 2024. The primary cause of the delivery's planned deferral is the requirement to negotiate a thorough arrangement with Iran, the country of transit. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan said earlier that the country will sell 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to Iraq through a swap arrangement with Iran. The gas-rich central Asian country has a pipeline that connects to Iran, which borders Iraq.


Shafaq News
18-05-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq's largest thermal plant fully operational
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Zubaidiyah Thermal Power Plant in Wasit province returned to full operational capacity, producing 2,500 megawatts after the completion of maintenance, Electricity Minister Ziad Fadel announced on Sunday. According to a statement from the ministry, Fadel praised the efforts of the engineering and technical teams, along with experts from China's Shanghai company, in overseeing the repair work. The minister also held a meeting with officials from the Central Region Electricity Production Company to discuss maintenance and operational plans for power stations in the area and explore ways to enhance efficiency during the high-demand season. 'Maintenance work conducted across various power stations this year has resulted in the restoration of over 15,000 megawatts to the national grid,' he affirmed. Notably, Zubaidiyah is one of Iraq's largest electricity generation facilities. Its full reactivation is expected to provide a major boost to the national power grid, particularly as the country approaches peak summer consumption. Iraq, long reliant on Iranian electricity and gas imports to meet surging summer demand, is now at risk of a severe power crisis after the Trump administration revoked a key waiver allowing Baghdad to pay Tehran for energy. With the current generation at around 28,000 MW and summer demand exceeding 55,000 MW, the country frequently experiences blackouts and depends on private generators.


Shafaq News
08-05-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq examines power plant proposals
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, Iraqi Electricity Minister Ziyad Ali Fadel reviewed offers to build new power plants, the ministry announced in a statement. Fadel chaired a key meeting, the session included a comprehensive review of investment and power purchase agreements, along with a discussion of the ministerial committee's comments on the submitted proposals. The minister conveyed Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani's directive to accelerate procedures and finalize financial models transparently, the statement added. For years, Iraq has heavily depended on electricity and gas imports from Iran, especially to meet surging demand during the summer. But with the arrival of a scorching season, the country now faces the risk of a serious power crisis after the Trump administration revoked a key waiver that had allowed Baghdad to pay Tehran for energy supplies. Iraq currently generates approximately 28,000 MW of electricity, while peak summer demand can exceed 55,000 MW, leading to frequent power outages and reliance on private diesel generators. Meanwhile, Iraq has signed an agreement with Siemens Energy to add 14,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation capacity to its national grid.


Shafaq News
05-05-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq pushes for renewables with UAE energy deal
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, Iraq's Electricity Minister Ziyad Fadel held talks with UAE-based Masdar to fast-track a 1,000-megawatt solar power project in Maysan, Dhi Qar, and Al-Anbar provinces. According to a statement by the Ministry of Electricity, Fadel held a virtual meeting with Masdar representatives to discuss finalizing the power purchase agreement and resolving obstacles. Iraq is ramping up efforts to transition toward renewable energy to ease chronic power shortages and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. With abundant sunlight and over 3,000 hours of sunshine annually, the country holds strong potential for solar power. The government has set a target of generating 12 GW of renewable energy by 2030—mainly from solar—and has signed key agreements with international firms, including UAE-based Masdar.


Iraqi News
02-05-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq to produce additional 38,000 megawatts of electricity
Baghdad ( – 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.