Iraq Energy Conference 2026 Held

Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani opened the Iraq Energy Conference 2026 in Baghdad on Wednesday, emphasising in his keynote speech:

Target to export 40% of oil output as higher-value derivative products by 2030
Expansion of refining capacity and cooperation with the private sector to end fuel imports
Utilisation of 74% of Iraq's gas resources to date
Confirmed free natural gas reserves approaching 132 million standard cubic feet
Commitment to end environmentally harmful gas flaring by 2028
Electricity generation capacity reaching nearly 29,000 megawatts
Completion of a more efficient national transmission and distribution network
Plans for new power stations totalling 57,500 megawatts, including 34 plants with GE and Siemens
Launch of 15 solar power projects targeting 7,500 megawatts across several provinces
Development of clean energy, water resource governance, and green economy projects

The conference also highlighted Iraq's role in regional energy cooperation, the importance of digital transformation in the energy sector, and the risks posed by regional instability to global energy markets.