Iraq and Turkey Unveil New Electrical Interconnection

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has inaugurated a new power grid connection project with Turkey, aiming to enhance Iraq's national power grid. The project, completed in coordination with the Turkish Ministry of Energy, will provide 300 megawatts of electricity to Iraq’s northern provinces via a 115-kilometer line connecting to the Al-Sikak power plant west of Mosul. This strategic initiative is part of Iraq's broader effort to diversify its energy sources and reduce chronic power outages, despite the country's vast oil reserves.

Iraq has also established an electricity grid link with Jordan and aims to connect with Kuwait and the GCC by the end of the year, followed by Saudi Arabia. These efforts are designed to integrate Iraq into the regional energy system, enabling energy diversity and exchange during peak load periods. Despite these diversification efforts, Iraq continues to rely heavily on Iranian gas, which accounts for up to 40 percent of its electricity and gas supplies. The United States has been encouraging Iraq to lessen its dependency on Iranian energy imports, and Baghdad is exploring additional sources from Gulf countries and developing 6,000 megawatts of solar power.