INA opens 12 files with the Electric Minister, most notably the energy production volume next summer

INA-  Baghdad 

Minister of Electricity, Ziad Ali Fadel revealed the ministry's plans to increase energy production, what has been applied and what has been achieved, announces that General Electric and Siemens companies contracts with will be reaped this summer, he explained the most important thing it will add to the network, the minister touched on a Government plan to connect the system from North to South, revealed the latest developments in the file of energy imports from Turkmenistan and Qatar, and the reason for the decline in its flows from Iran, while he spoke in detail about the smart transformation project, stressing that it will ensure the supply of energy to those covered by it over a 24-hour, and concluded his speech he gave good news to the metrics readers, stressing the moving towards assigning job grades to them.

Fadel said in an interview with the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "the electricity file is one of the important files that touches citizens lives " indicating that "all Iraqis are waiting and following up the service provision to this important sector”.

"In the first year of assuming responsibility, we focused on key and important axes, including the energy production axis, where it was necessary to prepare a quick plan to raise the energy level production commensurate with the required load, which reaches 40-42 thousand megawatts in the summer "he added.

He continued "We sought to achieve an increase in the production, and we focused on key axes, most notably the maintenance of production units and the introduction of an intensive program to extract the energy available inside them, and we succeeded in the first year by introducing cooling systems that added 800 megawatts, and this year 400 megawatts will be added, and the fact that in the past there was no intensive maintenance that the citizen pays for, as it stops when the loads increase in the summer".

Current production rate

Fadel pointed out that" since we assumed responsibility, the production rates were 19 thousand megawatts, and we raised it to 21 thousand megawatts, "explaining that" last summer we achieved a production rate ranging between 24-26 thousand megawatts, and this was achieved by an action plan and a series of measures, and we are seeking to raise it this year to 27 thousand and then 28 thousand as the highest figure " expecting that the processing rates for next summer will be higher than last year”.

Signed contracts

Fadel said "The ministry has signed several contracts to improve the reality of the system with General Electric and Siemens companies, and we will enjoy this achievement this summer and from the beginning of May" ,explaining that "there are quality projects with the addition of 600 megawatts of the same production units”.
 
"The contracts also include the investment of combined cycles from operating plants, and these will appear by the end of this year and will add 4 thousand megawatts "he added.

He added that " the contracts also include the introduction of Government production units with a capacity of 17 thousand megawatts with an intensive maintenance program, which we will maintain as a government maintenance program for 5 years with manufacturers, and this will give us greater stability and an increase in energy".

Connecting transport networks from North to South

"We have a plan implemented for the first time to connect the transport networks from the south to the Middle Euphrates, the center and the North has achieved advanced results, that is, to have a unified system through which energy is transferred flexibly and achieve a fair distribution from the places with the least need to the top, for example in the summer the southern governorates due to high temperatures need more energy, and in winter the opposite happens as the northern governorates need more energy "Fadel said.

He added that "the ministry has a contract with Siemens to establish 5 transmission stations with a capacity of 1500 MW to achieve the goal of connecting the network from North to South, and these contracts are the first of their kind in Iraq and we hope that it will be done before the end of this year".

Use of Gas

Fadel explained that "our gas-fired power plants and production units depend by about 60 percent on imported gas, and its decline or interruption significantly affects production "noting that" 6 thousand megawatts of production depend on imported gas".

"There are short-term plans to reduce dependence on gas in the current period, represented by the use of thermal energy projects powered by the fuel available in the country by increasing its stability, such as the North Station with a capacity of 750 MW and the AL-shanafiya station with about 750 MW, in addition to solar energy projects "he said.

He pointed out that "there are long-term solutions related to the completion of gas field and associated gas investment projects which will be possible within 3 years, and all these solutions the ministry has taken it upon itself to proceed with this year in order to overcome the crises".

Import of Gas

Fadel pointed out that "we visited Turkmenistan and signed an agreement to import 20 million M³ and the agreement was completed" explaining that "the only challenge facing us is the lack of connecting lines transporting gas from Turkmenistan to Iraq only through the Iranian network" explaining, "We are negotiating with the Iranian side to use their network to transport these quantities, as these 20 million from Turkmenistan will provide continuous Turkmenistan next summer".

He added that "the agreement with Iran, which has been in place for years, provides for supplying Iraq with 51 million M³ per day,and this amount covers our need if the flow is stabilized by them, and the 20 million M³ from Turkmenistan can be used when reducing the flow from the Iranian side".

He pointed out that "the Ministry of electricity paid all gas dues to the Iranian side and downloaded them to a special account at the Iraqi Trade Bank, but due to international sanctions, the payment process was not completed and now the gas is being exchanged for Iraqi black oil according to an agreement that was made and is being carried out smoothly”.

He pointed out that" the Iranian side has reduced the quantities of gas flowing in winter, especially in the last two months, and it was not possible due to the cold weather and the internal need for double quantities, as well as the maintenance of pipelines ",adding that "the ministry hopes for the return of natural flows with the entry of the holy month of Ramadan, which will result in a clear improvement in processing hours”.

Regarding the import of gas from Qatar, the Minister of Electricity explained that "there are ongoing discussions with the Qatari side to import liquid gas, and its transportation is carried out via steamers that require the preparation of a special platform or pier by the Iraqi side to receive it, and Prime Minister Mohammed S. al-Sudani formed a special committee with the membership of the ministry undersecretary for production affairs, the Minister of Oil undersecretary and a number of advisers to the Prime Minister and submitted a final recommendation to establish a special platform and its implementation and completion requires two years and once completed, we will be able to import gas from Qatar and any country that can export gas to Iraq".



The connection with neighboring countries

The connection with neighboring countries regarding imported energy has been clarified by the Minister of Electricity. He mentioned importing 600 megawatts from Iran and having contracts with investors in the Kurdistan region, supplying energy and ongoing efforts to connect with neighboring countries. The connection with Jordan is completed, supplying Al-Rutbah district, and preparations for receiving electrical power are underway. Regarding the Gulf connection, progress is high, and by the end of 2024, a line will enhance the network by 500 megawatts for Al-Faw district in Basra province.

Renewable Energy

He added that the connection with Saudi Arabia has progressed, with the signing of the consultancy contract, and preparations are underway to complete the agreement within two or three years. Solar energy projects with Total, the French company, and Aqua Power, the Chinese company, have been signed for generating 250 megawatts, along with an investment project with Al-Bilad Company for generating 500 megawatts.