Iraq Gas Imports from Iran to Continue: Electricity Minister

Iraq’s minister of electricity said that import of gas from Iran ( Gas Exports to Iraq ) will remain in place as the country needs Iranian gas to generate electricity.

Ziad Ali Fazel on Monday emphasized the need for importing gas from Iran. The minister went on to say that Iraqi power plants operate with gas fuel to generate about 7,000 to 8,000 megawatts of electricity. Since the previous projects related to Iraq’s oil ministry have been delayed with the aim of investing in gas projects, Iraq’s need to import gas from Iran has remained in place.

Fazel pointed to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked between Iraq and Turkmenistan for the daily import of 25 Mcm of gas from the Central Asian country and added that the gas will be transmitted through the Iranian gas pipeline.

He put the total amount of electricity needed in Iraq at 40,000 megawatts, adding, “Of the total 40,000-MW electricity required in Iraq, we have managed to generate 26,000-megawatts.”

Iraq relies on Iran for natural gas that generates as much as 45% of its 14,000 megawatts of electricity consumed daily. Iran transmits another 1,000 megawatts directly, making itself an indispensable energy source for its Arab neighbor.

The US has had to repeatedly extend sanctions exemption by 45, 90 or 120 days, to allow Baghdad to import Iranian energy, but it is unhappy with the close relationship and trade between Baghdad and Tehran. - Tasnim