Iraq succeeds in reducing thermal emissions by 2%

INA - BAGHDAD

Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs and Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani confirmed on Monday, that Iraq has made great strides in supporting clean energy projects, chemical industries, and fertilizers by investing in associated gas.

Abdul Ghani stressed "the importance of holding the conference in achieving energy security, which is one of the most important challenges facing our countries. The transition to energy is important and balancing control over important points in Oil and gas production. Iraq has come a long way in supporting clean energy projects, chemical industries, fertilizers, and others through investing in associated gas," according to a statement from the ministry, received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

He added, "Iraq has a large capacity to produce oil and gas, and during the last period the government took important decisions to maximize the use of clean energy, especially by concluding contracts that were signed during the previous period," pointing out, "Signing with Total to invest gas in the amount of 600 million cubic feet from (5) fields, in addition to two main projects, one of which is establishing a water purification station and directing it for reservoir injection purposes with a capacity of 5 million barrels per day, which provides or is equivalent to this amount of potable water and for human uses such as agriculture and supporting environmental conservation efforts. The other project is the establishment of an electric power generation station using solar energy with a capacity of 1000-1200 megawatts. This project is considered one of the largest renewable energy or solar energy projects in the region, and therefore this project contributes to enhancing the role of reliance on renewable energy.”

Abdul Ghani stressed “Iraq’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and succeeded in reducing thermal emissions by 2% thanks to the projects that were launched at the end of last year,” explaining, “Thanks to one of the Basra Gas Company projects with a capacity of 200 million cubic feet of gas, Iraq was able to reduce thermal emissions by 2%. There is a similar project that will be launched at the end of the first semester of 2024 and will contribute to reducing thermal emissions by (2%)."

"We have previously called for inclusion in the recommendations and decisions of conferences on the environment to continue releasing water from upstream countries to their neighboring countries, and that withholding water means depriving these countries of agricultural projects and is a fight against the environment par excellence," he highlighted.

He pointed out that "agriculture and green areas contribute to reducing the percentage of carbon in the atmosphere, and therefore conferences on the environment must include an important topic, which is the maintenance and continued release of water shares in upstream countries," explaining, "Iraq has begun to support carbon bond projects in the Central Oil Company."