Iraq embarks on producing electricity from solar energy at a rate of 1,000 megawatts

Baghdad-INA


Ministry of Electricity announced Sunday the start of work to produce electricity from solar energy at a rate of 1,000 megawatts, indicating that the project will be in four governorates.
 
A spokesman for the Ministry of Electricity, Ahmed Musa, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The volume of production in the contract signed with the Emirati Masdar Company for the production of electricity through solar energy is (1000 megawatts)."

He added, "The ministry signed with the company previously, and two days ago we signed the legal advisory contract, which represents a starting point for actually starting work," noting that "the stations will have a capacity of (1,000 megawatts) as a first stage."
 
He pointed out that "the ministry discussed with the company the technical specifications that will be adopted, achieving economic feasibility, and the ceiling of work completion, which will be within the ministry's medium-term plan, which is from two to three years."

 
Musa indicated, "The ministry was also keen to diversify production for several governorates, including (Nineveh, Anbar, Dhi Qar, and Maysan)," noting that "after negotiations, the ministry was able to reduce the price of the tariff, and plots of land were allocated in coordination with the local governments in the governorates. Actually, we have to start working with this company to build the stations.”
 
He pointed out, "The ministry signed earlier the first licensing round of (7,500 megawatts) with the French Total Company and the Chinese Power Time, and we also signed with the Norwegian Scatec Company."
 
Earlier, the Ministry of Electricity concluded a contract with an Emirati company to implement solar power plants.
 
A statement by the ministry, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), stated that it had “concluded in the conference hall at the ministry’s headquarters, a legal advisory contract with the Emirati Masdar Company, which is among the procedures necessary to establish solar energy plants, , Muhammad Al-Azzawi, signed on behalf of the Iraqi side, and the General Manager of Eversheds Sutherland Company, Tawfiq Al-Tabbaa, on the Emirati side.

He added, "The contract included the construction of solar power plants with a capacity of (1,000 megawatts) as a first stage, in the governorates of (Maysan 100 megawatts, Dhi Qar 450 megawatts, Nineveh 100 megawatts, and Anbar 350 megawatts)."
 
He stressed that "the procedures for allocating land and determining the paths of transmission lines have been completed, noting that" the company has begun conducting topographical surveys of the land, evaluating the environmental and social impacts and soil investigations.
 
He added, "Negotiations for the energy purchase contract have reached their final stages, to start the financing procedures by the company, and to establish stations in the agreed locations."