Latest news with #ZiadAliFadel
Shafaq News
28-06-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Basra solar project: Major step in Iraq's clean energy push
Shafaq News - Basra On Saturday, Iraq's Minister of Electricity, Ziad Ali Fadel, described the ongoing Shams Basra (Basra Sun) solar project as a 'significant step' in the country's transition to clean energy. Overseen by TotalEnergies, the 1,000 MW project spans 9,000 dunams in the province's southern desert and includes two million photovoltaic panels across four units, each generating 250 megawatts. According to the minister, it will significantly reduce emissions and align with Iraq's clean energy goals. Despite being one of the world's largest oil producers, Iraq has long struggled with power shortages and high summer demand. The country is now seeking to diversify its energy mix amid rising consumption and environmental concerns.
Iraqi News
04-06-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq signs deal with Turkey's Alifrin to double electricity interconnection capacity
Baghdad ( – Iraq's Ministry of Electricity signed a contract on Wednesday (June 4, 2025) with Turkish company Alifrin to double the capacity of the Iraq-Turkey electricity interconnection line from 300 MW to 600 MW. The signing was overseen by Electricity Minister Ziad Ali Fadel. The new agreement will initially supply 300 MW to Iraq's national grid via the Jazira-Kesk 400 kV line in Nineveh governorate, with the capacity set to increase to the full 600 MW in less than a month. Iraqi ministry companies have reportedly completed all necessary technical preparations for this upgrade. This project is expected to directly improve electricity supply hours in northern Iraq and holds strategic importance by linking the Iraqi grid to the European energy network, where Turkey is a key member. The contract operates on a 'Take and Pay' basis, ensuring Iraq pays only for consumed electricity, offering economic flexibility. The Ministry stated this initiative is part of its strategy to diversify energy sources, reduce reliance on single suppliers, and foster cooperation with neighboring countries and the EU.
Shafaq News
28-03-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Electricity Minister details plans to avoid summer energy crisis
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Ministry of Electricity has several plans to avoid a potential electricity crisis next summer, Minister Ziad Ali Fadel confirmed on Friday. In an interview with Al Hadath TV, Fadel explained that halting the exemptions targeted the import of electricity from Iran through the grid, which had supplied 800 MW to parts of Diyala, Maysan, and Basra. He noted that the ministry had not received any official notice regarding the suspension of Iranian gas imports, adding that the issue was still under discussion. 'Claims of severe energy shortages this summer are exaggerated, as the government is aware of the challenges and has contingency plans,' the minister affirmed. He also mentioned plans to install floating gas platforms in the Gulf by the Ministry of Oil in June to receive LNG ships and convert the gas for the Iraqi grid. Additionally, Fadel highlighted plans to import up to 20 million cubic meters of gas daily from Turkmenistan starting in June. The Turkish side has agreed to double power supplies via the Iraq-Turkey grid to 600 MW in mid-May, and the Iraq-Kuwait grid connection is 90% complete, 'though some mine-related issues in the Fao region are being addressed with the Ministry of Defense,' the minister revealed. He also detailed ongoing solar projects: 1,000 MW in Basra by Total, 750 MW in Al Muthanna by PetroChina, and 500 MW by Al-Balal Group in Babil and Karbala. He emphasized the ministry's goal of 15,000 MW from combined cycle and solar power projects, with 24,000 MW expected from deals with General Electric and Siemens. Recently, the US State Department ended exemptions allowing Iraq to import electricity from Iran, in line with President Trump's "maximum pressure" policy on Tehran. Notably, Iraq has long relied on Iranian electricity and gas, particularly during the summer months, with US exemptions being renewed annually.
The National
16-03-2025
- Business
- The National
Turkey to double electricity exports to Iraq
Turkey is to double its electricity exports to Iraq to 600 megawatts as Baghdad seeks to offset US-sanctioned energy from Iran before the scorching summer months. Iraq's Ministry of Electricity has completed 'all logistical and infrastructure measures necessary to increase the supply capacity via the Iraqi-Turkish interconnection line to 600 megawatts", it said in a statement on Sunday. Alparslan Bayraktar, Turkey's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, held meetings in Baghdad with officials including Iraqi Electricity Minister Ziad Ali Fadel. Mr Bayraktar said the increased electricity supply will begin 'in the coming months', the Iraqi ministry said. Last July, Baghdad and Ankara inaugurated the power line that currently supplies Iraq with 300MW of electricity. Under US President Donald Trump's 'maximum pressure' campaign against Iran, America last week rescinded a waiver to Iraq that would allow it to secure energy imports from Iran. The policy is designed to put pressure on Iran over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Despite being Opec's second-biggest producer, Iraq struggles to meet the growing demand for electricity because of decades of war, mismanagement and corruption. Iraq spent at least $60 billion on the electricity sector since the 2003 US-led invasion of the country, former prime minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi said in 2020. Baghdad depends on Iran for about a third of its electricity needs. It buys 50 million cubic metres of natural gas and 500MW of electricity a day from Iran. US sanctions will only affect electricity imports, Iraqi officials have said. Baghdad has been under pressure from the US to wean itself off Iranian energy imports, which have been subject to US sanctions since 2018. Since then, Washington has repeatedly extended waivers to Baghdad for periods of 45 to 120 days to allow it to import Iranian electricity and gas. Iraq has in recent years taken some measures to develop its natural gas resources and reduce shortfalls in the electricity sector. Iraq's natural gas reserves stand at about 3,714 billion cubic metres, Oil Ministry figures show.
Shafaq News
06-02-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
GE boosts Iraq's power grid ahead of 2025 summer
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Ministry of Electricity and General Electirc (Veranova) announced on Wednesday the completion of extensive upgrades at several major power plants, boosting the performance and efficiency of existing generation units in preparation for the summer season. The projects are part of the Ministry's efforts to modernize the country's electrical infrastructure, enhance grid stability, and meet rising energy demand, aligning with Iraq's strategy to secure more electricity, transition to more sustainable energy, and reduce carbon emissions. A ministry's statement revealed that one of the projects involved upgrading 46 gas turbines across 12 power plants, which will add more than 500 megawatts to the national grid by the summer of 2025. These upgrades are expected to enhance operational flexibility and significantly improve generation efficiency. The plants undergoing the upgrades include those in Nineveh, Diwaniya, Hillah, Karbala, Shatt al-Basra, Najibiya, Samawah, Dhi Qar, Khairat, and Hilla, where operations have been switched from heavy fuel oil to natural gas. This conversion has already contributed an additional 260 megawatts of generation capacity, with further maintenance and updates at other plants expected to add another 250 megawatts by summer 2025. In another project, the Ministry confirmed the completion of advanced hot gas path (AGP) upgrades on E9 gas turbines at the Quds, Dhi Qar, and Qayyarah plants, and the MXLII upgrade at the Al-Mansouriya plant on 13E2 gas turbines. These updates are expected to increase generation capacity by up to 6% per plant, allowing for more energy production with the same amount of fuel. The Ministry also noted that GE (Veranova) had completed a range of comprehensive maintenance projects to ensure the readiness of approximately 3.7 gigawatts at key plants, such as Qayyarah, Diwaniya, Al-Hadriyah, and South Baghdad. These projects are part of previously announced five-year service and upgrade agreements aimed at ensuring the long-term stability and readiness of Iraq's national grid. Iraq's Minister of Electricity, Ziad Ali Fadel, stated, 'These diverse and comprehensive projects represent a pivotal step towards enhancing the electricity sector's capabilities in Iraq, particularly during peak seasons.' Joseph Anis, CEO of GE (Veranova) for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, noted that the successful completion of these projects on schedule is contributing to the efficiency and sustainability of the generation units in line with the Iraqi government's energy sector vision. Earlier in 2024, GE Veranova announced the early completion of six 132-kilovolt electrical substations, with the last, the Rusafa Central substation, completed on November 18, 2024, more than two months ahead of schedule. In April 2024, the Iraqi government and GE Veranova signed memorandums of understanding, with the support of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, during his visit to the United States. Over the past decade, GE Veranova has significantly supported Iraq's electricity sector, adding 19 gigawatts to the national grid, building and operating 30 electrical substations, and contributing to the project linking Iraq's electricity grid with that of Jordan. The company also facilitated financing for energy projects exceeding $3 billion and continued to invest in training the Iraqi workforce and developing local talent.
