Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Ali Saadi Wahib, reviews the ministry's plans in Parliament to improve power supply through electrical interconnection projects, and reveals the challenges regarding Iranian gas supplies and General Electric contracts.
The Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Ali Saadi Wahib, confirmed that improving the energy situation in the country rests on two main tracks: completing electrical interconnection projects with neighboring countries, and fundamentally addressing power losses and encroachments on the national grid. He pointed out that these steps will significantly contribute to raising production rates and increasing supply hours for citizens in the upcoming phase.
The Minister's remarks came during his appearance on Saturday before the Parliamentary Electricity and Energy Committee, where they discussed the most sensitive files in the electricity sector and evaluated the ministry's current and future plans.
Details of "General Electric" Contracts and the Iranian Gas Crisis
According to a statement issued by the Iraqi Council of Representatives, Minister Wahib reviewed the results of his recent official visits to the United States and Iran during the parliamentary session.
The most prominent issues discussed in this regard were:
Washington Contracts: Reaching advanced understandings regarding maintenance and development contracts with the American company General Electric (GE) to support Iraqi power plants.
The Iranian Gas File: Reviewing the latest developments regarding gas imports from Tehran, which is considered the lifeline for operating Iraqi power generation plants.
Financial Challenges and the Impact of Regional Crises on Electricity
The Minister of Electricity did not hide the magnitude of the challenges hindering the ministry's work, explaining that there is a dire need to pump additional quantities of gas to ensure grid stability and increase supply hours. He also pointed to the burden of financial obligations and accumulated debts weighing on the ministry.
On a regional level, Wahib noted that the geopolitical conditions and crises sweeping the region have caused delays in completing some procedures for the electrical interconnection projects with neighboring countries. At the same time, he affirmed the ministry's determination to move forward and complete them to support the national grid.
Parliamentary Hearing and Opening Files on Suspected Corruption
In a related context, a parliamentary source in the Electricity and Energy Committee revealed that the Minister's hearing was not limited to technical aspects. It also included discussing the deteriorating state of the power grid and opening files related to suspected financial irregularities and corruption in some companies operating in the sector. This hearing serves as a preliminary step before the Minister's appearance in the general parliamentary session scheduled for next Monday.
It is noteworthy that most Iraqi provinces are currently experiencing a suffocating crisis and severe power outages, reaching total darkness in several areas. The Ministry of Electricity had previously attributed this decline to increased encroachments on the network and a drop in imported gas supplies due to the repercussions of the regional war in the area.
