Iraq imports more electricity

 

By Taghreed Mansour

 

Azzaman, 2005-03-28

 

To meet acute power shortages, the Ministry of Electricity has signed more deals with both Iran and Turkey to substantially boost the flow of their electricity to the country.

 

According to Raad al-Haris, deputy minister of electricity, Iran would raise its power exports to the country to 124 megawatts in June, when demand begins to peak.

 

Currently Iran supplies Iraq with 90 megawatts, but Haris said he had agreed with the Iranians to raise their power exports to 124 megawatts by June.

 

He said the Iranians were keen to increase their power supplies to the country and promised to do so in 12 months once a new high-voltage line linking the countries is completed.

 

Turkey, Haris said, has expressed readiness to hike its power exports to Iraq to 250 megawatts from the current 70.

 

“The Turkish energy minister and I have agreed to increase Iraqi power imports from Turkey,” Haris said.

 

However, the increase in Turkish power supplies depends on how quickly the countries will build the infrastructure necessary to link their power grids.

 

More than two years after the occupation of Iraq by US troops, the country still suffers from chronic power shortages.

 

Outages in many major cities may last up to 20 hours a day.