Jordan to Export Electricity to Iraq

Employees walk grounds of Dhi Qar Combined Cycle Power Plant near Iraqi city of Nasiriyah (File photo: AFP)
Employees walk grounds of Dhi Qar Combined Cycle Power Plant near Iraqi city of Nasiriyah (File photo: AFP)
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Jordan to Export Electricity to Iraq

Employees walk grounds of Dhi Qar Combined Cycle Power Plant near Iraqi city of Nasiriyah (File photo: AFP)
Employees walk grounds of Dhi Qar Combined Cycle Power Plant near Iraqi city of Nasiriyah (File photo: AFP)

Jordan signed an agreement to sell electricity to Iraq and connect the two countries' power grids, according to an official Jordanian source.

The agreement was signed via videoconferencing and attended by Jordanian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Hala Zawati and her Iraqi counterpart Majed Emarah.

The deal says that Jordan will provide Iraq with 1,000 gigawatt-hours per year in the first phase of the project.

Zawati said that supplying Iraq with electricity will begin after the completion of the construction of al-Risha plant in Jordan, and the establishment of the 300-km power line connecting it with the al-Qaim conversion plant in Iraq.

It will be completed within 26 months of the signing date of the contract, the Minister added.

She highlighted the importance of the Jordanian-Iraqi power grid connection, pointing out that the project enhances the stability and reliability of power networks in both countries.

It serves the intention of establishing a joint power market in the Arab world, which would promote Arab economic integration, announced Zawati.

Baghdad currently imports gas and electricity from Tehran following a US waiver allowing Iraq to import energy sources from Iran without risking sanctions.

Despite rich oil sources, Baghdad relies heavily on Iran in the field of energy and imports a third of its gas and electricity consumption. Iraq is unable to achieve energy self-sufficiency to secure the needs of its 40 million people because of a decaying infrastructure.

The US extended the waiver granted to Iraq for two additional months, an Iraqi official told AFP.

When Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi formed the government in May, Washington granted Baghdad an exemption for a period of four months.

Meanwhile, Iraq’s General Company for Passenger Transport and Delegations at the Ministry of Transport announced preliminary talks to open a new route to Egypt, via Jordan.

Local media quoted the Company’s general director, Karim Hussein, who said there is a priority to open a new route to Egypt.

Hussein said the company's financial performance was profitable between 2018 and until the first two months of 2020, when it faced many losses due to travel bans and lockdowns imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.



Port of NEOM Strengthens Role in Global Supply Chain Connectivity

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
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Port of NEOM Strengthens Role in Global Supply Chain Connectivity

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA

Port of NEOM has marked a major milestone with the arrival of the first fully automated, remote-controlled Ship-To-Shore (STS) and Electric Rubber-Tyred Gantry (eRTG) cranes in the Kingdom, advancing its goal to become a global hub for smart, sustainable trade, SPA reported.

Strategically located on the Red Sea, Port of NEOM is already serving as a critical gateway on the East-West trade route. The newly arrived state-of-the-art cranes will play a critical role in the port’s automation strategy, unlocking the potential for high-volume, high-efficiency operations.

Development of Port of NEOM continues at a pace ahead of the 2026 opening of Terminal 1, a next-generation container terminal, with recent infrastructure milestones including the completion of a 900-meter quay wall and the deepening of the port channel to 18.5 meters—enabling the world’s largest vessels transiting the Suez Canal to call at Port of NEOM.

Terminal 1 will also feature horizontal transport automation as part of its broader goal to achieve full automation. Once operational, these technologies will significantly expand the port’s logistics capacity, driving regional industrial growth, opening access to global markets, enhancing supply chain resilience, and unlocking business opportunities.

Port of NEOM Managing Director Sean Kelly said: “The arrival of our first automated cranes marks a tangible milestone as we lay the foundations for an advanced, future-ready port. We are not only accelerating industrial growth in northwest Saudi Arabia, but we are also setting a new benchmark for performance, efficiency, innovation and establishing a vital trade gateway for the Kingdom and the region beyond.”

In parallel with its investments in infrastructure and automation, Port of NEOM is also committed to developing local talent, including training Saudi women to take on high-tech roles. Central to this effort is a pioneering initiative to train the next generation of production specialists in remote crane operation skills, thereby helping to shape a more inclusive future for the logistics and industrial sectors.

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.