Latest news with #MinistryofElectricity
Arab Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
Kuwait ramps up campaign for responsible energy use
KUWAIT CITY, June 1: The Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy launched the third edition of the National Energy Saving Campaign (Waffer) on Sunday to promote awareness of electricity and water conservation, aimed at protecting resources, reducing waste, and ensuring environmental and economic sustainability. At a press conference held at the Government Communication Center, Undersecretary and Chairman of the Electricity and Water Consumption Rationalization Committee, Dr. Adel Al-Zamel, said the campaign focuses on encouraging a culture of responsible energy use. He emphasized that the initiative aligns with national policy goals and has broad government support. Al-Zamel highlighted the increasing rates of electricity and water consumption in Kuwait, which he said have led to growing environmental and economic pressures. He urged government bodies, institutions, and individuals to reassess their consumption habits and support efforts to reduce waste. He added that the campaign is a shared national responsibility and a call to adopt rational use as a value, moderation as a strength, and cooperation as a pathway to sustainability. Al-Zamel noted that Kuwait's per capita energy consumption remains high compared to other countries, calling for increased media efforts to promote responsible water use. He expressed confidence in the campaign's success through collective participation and commended government agencies for their efforts to reduce energy use in public buildings. Engineers Khadija Bushehri and Mohammed Al-Hattab, leaders of the Ministry's awareness team, presented a media campaign designed to encourage responsible energy behavior and engage both public and private sectors in conservation efforts. They said the campaign also promotes energy-efficient products and practices. A children's awareness video featuring cartoon characters "Kahroob" and "Qatura" was also shown to introduce energy-saving concepts at an early age. The Ministry invited the public to visit the Waffer pavilion at Avenues Mall (Phase 2) to learn more about energy waste and methods of efficient consumption.
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
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq, GE Vernova advance plans for 24 GW power expansion
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, Iraq and US-based GE Vernova discussed the construction of modern power plants across Iraq with a total capacity of 24,000 megawatts. According to a statement from the Ministry of Electricity's media office, Minister Ziad Fadel underscored the importance of the partnership, stressing the need to adhere to implementation timelines and uphold high technical and environmental standards throughout project execution. Both sides reviewed potential sites for the new plants, with emphasis on geographic distribution and regional consumption needs to ensure maximum utility and grid efficiency, the statement said. They also discussed plans to rehabilitate and expand the Al-Musayyib and Mansuriyah power stations—two critical nodes in Iraq's national grid. The upgrades are expected to enhance generation capacity and improve reliability. The talks also addressed long-term maintenance operations, which GE Vernova is currently conducting at several existing power stations. Comparable deals have been reached with Siemens Energy and France's TotalEnergies to boost power generation and curb emissions by capturing flared gas. Iraq has long depended on electricity and gas imports from Iran to meet demand, but those supplies have often been disrupted by US sanctions and regional instability—underscoring the need to strengthen domestic energy infrastructure.
Iraqi News
3 days ago
- Business
- Iraqi News
Ministry of Electricity Announces Imminent Contracts with Saudi and Emirati Companies to Establish Five Solar Power Stations
The Ministry of Electricity announced on Thursday that it is close to signing contracts with two companies—one Saudi and the other Emirati—to construct five solar power stations. It also noted that the Gulf electricity interconnection project has reached 93% completion. The official spokesperson for the Ministry, Ahmed Moussa, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA), 'The current crisis affecting electricity supply is now recognized by all parties—government, parliament, and citizens alike—as being largely due to the significant reduction in imported gas supplies. While some power stations operate on domestic gas or fuel, others rely on imported gas, specifically from Iran. The sharp drop in Iranian gas supplies has led to the shutdown of several generation units, weakening the electricity grid, especially during this period of rising temperatures and increased demand.' He added, 'The Ministry has lost nearly 4,000 megawatts of production capacity. This loss significantly affects electricity supply hours. Although the Ministry had adequately prepared its stations and generation units, the current challenges stem from fuel shortages. The government and Ministry have long considered alternative solutions, including diversifying gas sources.' Moussa stated that the current electricity production stands at approximately 23,000 megawatts, while the loss caused by the gas shortage is around 4,000 megawatts. 'If sufficient fuel were available, the system could potentially reach a load capacity of 27,000 megawatts,' he said. 'Supply hours vary by province, area, fuel availability, temperature, and the efficiency of distribution networks, which has led to disparities in electricity supply even within the same province.' He emphasized that the Ministry is committed to distributing electricity fairly but is constrained by external factors that disrupt station operations. 'Over the past 18 months, the Ministry signed a gas supply agreement with Turkmenistan, providing for the delivery of 20 million cubic meters in summer and 10 million in winter via Iranian territory. However, due to U.S. sanctions on Iran, the Trade Bank of Iraq was unable to open letters of credit and transfer funds to the Turkmen side.' Moussa also stated that 'the four power lines with Iran were halted on January 8 due to sanctions, causing a loss of over 1,000 megawatts, significantly affecting provinces such as Diyala, particularly the districts of Al-Khalis and Khanaqin.' He added that 'the interconnection with Jordan is now operational, with increased electricity transfer based on directives from the Prime Minister. The connection with Turkey is also online, currently supplying 300 megawatts, with plans to increase this to 600 megawatts by mid-next month.' He further noted, 'The interconnection with the Gulf, via Kuwait, has reached 93% completion, and in the near future, it will be finalized, allowing Basra province to receive electricity through this link.' Regarding renewable energy initiatives, Moussa stated: 'The government has taken significant steps to diversify energy sources, including the use of renewable and solar energy, and even waste-to-energy solutions. The Ministry is currently working with major companies to construct solar power plants in Basra, Muthanna, Karbala, Babil, and Dhi Qar. ' He added, 'The Ministry is close to signing a contract with Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power to build a 1,000-megawatt solar plant in Najaf. It is also negotiating with the UAE's Masdar to establish four additional solar plants with a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts. Another key project involves converting 534 government buildings to solar power, starting with the Government Palace, as directed by the Prime Minister. This will reduce the burden on the grid and ensure self-sufficiency for these institutions.' Finally, Moussa said: 'A third initiative involves the Central Bank and local banks offering small loans to citizens for the purchase of solar power systems. The Ministry has approved certain companies after reviewing technical and commercial proposals. Citizens can now obtain solar systems through these companies using low-interest loans. While the interest rate was previously 8%, it has been reduced to 2.5%, and the repayment period extended from four to seven years. These measures represent significant government support to ease the pressure on the national grid and promote renewable energy adoption.'
Iraqi News
6 days ago
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq seeks new approaches to import gas from Turkmenistan
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity has proposed an alternative method to import natural gas from Turkmenistan to address the country's inability to import Turkmen gas, despite a written agreement between the two countries. The spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity, Ahmed Musa, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that Iraq had previously signed a gas supply agreement with Turkmenistan for an average of 20 million cubic meters per day. This gas will be transported to Iraq via pipelines that connect Turkmenistan and Iran to compensate for the decreasing gas supplies from Tehran. Musa clarified that this approach has been hindered by the Trade Bank of Iraq's (TBI) inability to issue a letter of credit to allow Iraq to pay for gas imports due to US sanctions on Iran. The Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Ziyad Ali Fadel, arrived in Turkmenistan on Sunday to accelerate 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 indicated earlier that Iraq will get gas from Turkmenistan through Iran's pipeline network, which is connected to Iraq and will eventually serve the country's power plants. Over the next five years, the arrangement will allow Turkmen gas to be transported to Iraq across Iran. Iraq has apparently completed all of the required steps to begin importing gas from Turkmenistan in January 2024. The key reason for the delay is the need to execute a detailed agreement with Iran, the country of transit.
