Iraqi Electricity Minister Ziyad Ali Fadel signed on Wednesday an agreement with Siemens Energy in Berlin to convert flared gas into fuel for electricity.
The agreement covers about 120 million standard cubic feet of gas within a period of 6 months and an additional 120 million standard cubic feet within one year, according to the Iraqi news agency (INA).
The agreement comes as part of the Iraqi government’s efforts to stop gas flaring and to invest it effectively in generating electrical energy, the Minister’s office said in a statement.
It is also part of Iraq’s commitment to the decisions of the Paris Climate Conference in preserving the environment and providing renewable energy sources.
The statement said the agreement is characterized by rapid implementation, as it includes investing about 120 million standard cubic feet (meaqf) of gas within a short period of 6 months, and an additional 120 (meaqf) within a period of one year.
The gas produced will be used to establish an electrical station with a capacity of 2000 megawatts, to enhance Iraq’s national electricity grid.
Siemens Energy CEO Christian Bruch commended the Iraqi government for its efforts in overcoming the obstacles that the energy industry has encountered for a long time.
“Iraq has been successful in constructing several infrastructure projects in the last few years that will help develop the actual capabilities of the Iraqi energy sector,” he said, according to the Ministry statement.