EU preliminary approves Iraqi-Turkish electricity link-up

BAGHDAD-INA

Ministry of Electricity revealed Friday preliminary approvals from the European Union regarding the Iraqi-Turkish link-up while indicating that it has taken firm steps towards rehabilitating Al-Khairat station through a bilateral partnership with Turkey.

 A statement by the ministry, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), stated that "the Minister of Electricity in charge, Adel Karim, received at the ministry's headquarters, the charge d'affaires of the Turkish embassy in Iraq, to ​​deliberate on the Iraqi-Turkish interconnection project, and strategic support for the national system."

 The minister expressed "the ministry's desire for real partnerships with neighboring Turkey, and to expand the work base of Turkish energy companies on Iraqi soil, including the development of Al-Khairat plant."

 He added, "The ministry has an important message that I have sent to its Turkish counterpart, which includes our readiness to complete the connection, energy exchange, and the importance of this for the northern region, noting that" the ministry is waiting for instructions to activate the connection, and that there is governmental attention on that."

 The Chargé d'Affairs of the Turkish embassy "stressed his country's interest in following up on developments in the system's work, and that it would strategically support the Ministry of Electricity."

 The Chargé d'Affairs explained, "about the readiness of the technical steps that the Iraqi electricity accomplished earlier in its final preparation plan, in light of the achievement of preliminary approvals issued by the European Union regarding this, and the commitment to deliver Iraq's message regarding the importance and feasibility of the connection urgently."

 Karim reviewed "the ministry's plan to move forward and activate electronic collecting as the desire to see the Turkish experience in this field,

 On the question of the charge d’affaires of the Turkish embassy about the other steps of linking with neighboring countries, the minister answered in detail about the stages of work with the Gulf, Jordan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the ministry’s direction towards proceeding with diversifying energy sources, noting that “there are contracts signed with international companies to implement solar energy projects.”