Iraq and solar energy.. Governmental work to produce 12,000 megawatts

Governmental entities confirmed the continuation of work to complete the contractual procedures and allocate land for the implementation of solar energy projects, through which the government contracted to add 12,000 megawatts of energy to the national system. 

Kamal Hussein, head of the Iraqi Commission for the Control of Radioactive Sources, said  that "there is a government goal that extends for the year 2025 for Iraq to add 12,000 megawatts of alternative (solar) energy through 3 contracts with the French Total and Emirati and Chinese companies. 

He added, "The government plans by 2030 to complete the energy mixture project and reduce emissions by 1-2%, and this project needs ten years to complete." 

 The spokesman for the Ministry of Electricity, Ahmed Musa, confirmed that "the ministry is coordinating well with local governments to allocate plots of land for the establishment of solar energy projects that reach the first stage to produce 7500 megawatts." 

He added, "The work has actually started and there are administrative procedures after signing the contracts that will be completed to achieve this goal." 

And the adviser to the Minister of Oil for Energy Affairs, Abdul Baqi Khalaf, confirmed to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "the Ministerial Energy Council has plans to add clean and renewable energy by 12 thousand megawatts of solar energy through contracts with solid and important companies." 

He pointed out that "Iraq has actually contracted with the French company Total Energy, Masdar and Power China within the 2000 megawatt project, and there are projects through the Investment Authority in which the first procedures have taken place and now they are in the process of contracting with the Norwegian company Scatec, in addition to that there are more than one contract and project under the plan and other projects are under discussion. 

He pointed out that "the projects, upon completion, will add 7,000 megawatts to the electrical network by 2026 if the plan goes as planned.