Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, said that his country would end reliance on Iranian oil imports within a period of three years.
Speaking at the inauguration of a power production unit in the Southeastern Maysan Governorate, Sudani said: “This project will supply the system with a new capacity of 250 megawatts,” indicating that the government’s strategic plans “will contribute to reducing operational budget spending, especially with regard to gas imports.”
“The government is working on more than one level to improve the country’s electricity network,” he stated, adding: “All problems resulting from lower Iranian gas supplies have been tackled with the settlement of all payments and the signing of an agreement to provide Iran with crude in exchange for gas which operates our power stations.”
Sudani stressed that the concessions and other agreements finalized with France’s TotalEnergies and other foreign firms would enable Iraq to better exploit its massive gas resources and stop gas flaring at its hydrocarbon sites.
He noted that these solutions would allow the country to end reliance on gas imports from Iran within three years
The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity announced early this summer that the season would be see the best rates of power supply, as energy production reached about 26,000 megawatts, while Iraq needs about 36,000 megawatts. However, the sharp rise in temperatures led to a strong decline in supply. Moreover, Iran refrained from delivering gas to Iraq due to the country’s failure to transfer its financial dues.
The Iraqi government, which had pledged to improve the services within its ministerial program, found itself in an uncomfortable situation after the United States refused to transfer dollars to Iran. Although the Sultanate of Oman entered the mediation line between Iraq, Iran and the United States, its efforts faltered after Washington agreed to transfer part of the funds for humanitarian purposes, which Iran refused.
