Iraq, Turkey discuss doubling energy imports to 600 MW

INA - BAGHDAD

Electricity Minister Ziyad Ali Fadhil and a Turkish delegation headed by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peris Akinci, discussed on Monday doubling energy imports to 600 megawatts.

"In an important step towards enhancing bilateral cooperation in the field of energy, Minister Fadhil held a fruitful technical meeting at the ministry's headquarters, with a Turkish delegation headed by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peris Ekinci," said the Ministry of Electricity in a statement - received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

He added, "The two parties discussed accelerating procedures to double the amount of energy imported from Turkey to 600 megawatts, instead of the current 300 megawatts, and rehabilitating the transmission line Jezreh - Kesk to accommodate the increase in the quantities of energy supplied."

"An agreement to activate the provisions of the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries recently, which includes establishing strategic energy production projects with the establishment of several new stations and transmission lines," he stated.

In turn, the Turkish delegation stressed "its country's keenness to enhance cooperation with Iraq in the field of energy", reiterating "Ankara's commitment to work quickly to increase the amount of energy through the interconnection lines to 600 MW after obtaining the approvals of the European Union". 

"The Ministry of Electricity focuses on increasing the volume of cooperation with Turkey in the field of renewable energy and benefiting from the Turkish experience as the fifth country in Europe in this field, in addition to exchanging experiences in the field of standards and smart transformation," the statement concluded.