The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity has announced that over 75% of the Gulf power grid connection project, aimed at bolstering the country’s energy supply, is now complete.
A delegation led by the Ministry’s advisor, Abdul Hamza Aboud, recently met in Basra with Mohamed Shaikh, Deputy CEO of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Interconnection Authority, alongside representatives from Gulf countries’ electricity and energy ministries.
“The draft energy exchange agreement with GCC countries has reached an advanced stage, with more than 75% of the project completed,” the ministry confirmed.
This meeting built on discussions from a previous session in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, where the draft agreement was reviewed. The agreement includes constructing two 400 kV high-voltage lines connecting Kuwait’s Al-Wafra station to Iraq’s Al-Faw secondary station, along with installing two transformers at Al-Faw, according to the ministry.
Iraq has long faced severe power shortages, particularly during summer months when temperatures can exceed 50°C. Years of war and sanctions have left the country’s power infrastructure in disrepair, resulting in frequent blackouts.
To address this, Baghdad is prioritizing regional electricity interconnection projects to stabilize its grid. The Gulf interconnection is expected to contribute 500 megawatts to Basra’s power supply, while a separate link with Saudi Arabia will initially provide 1,000 megawatts. However, despite these efforts, Iraq continues to rely heavily on Iranian gas, which has proven to be an unstable source.
