Power Grid

After a delay of nearly 20 years, the electricity interconnection line between Iraq and Turkey has begun its first phase, linking the borders of the two countries with a capacity of 300 megawatts. This significant development marks a milestone in regional energy cooperation.

According to separate data obtained by the Washington-based Specialized Energy Platform, Iraq Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani and Minister of Electricity Ziad Ali Fadel inaugurated the electrical interconnection line with Turkey on Sunday, July 21, 2024. This line connects the Al-Kasak station, west of Mosul, with the Turkish Jazira station, signifying a critical step towards enhancing energy supply in the region.

Baghdad revealed a surprising detail about the electricity interconnection line between Iraq and Turkey: the agreement includes Ankara exporting electricity to Baghdad during the summer with a capacity of 300 megawatts, while Baghdad will export electricity back to Turkey with a capacity of 150 megawatts during the rest of the year. This reciprocal arrangement aims to balance the electricity needs between the two nations.

The specialized energy platform reached out to the Iraq Ministry of Electricity for further clarification on how Baghdad plans to export electricity to Turkey amid its own supply challenges but did not receive a response. This comes at a time when Iraq faces a significant electricity crisis, with a daily supply deficit of about 19,000 megawatt hours, necessitating programmed power cuts across most governorates to manage the shortfall.