Baghdad: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has emphasized the critical importance of sustained efforts by the Ministry of Electricity employees to maintain their duties, particularly as temperatures rise.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Al-Sudani’s media office released a statement following a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister to discuss electricity production. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Electricity, advisors, and senior staff from the ministry. Al-Sudani highlighted the necessity for the ministry’s employees to persistently carry out their roles, especially during the summer heat, and underscored the need to track the ministry’s plans to ensure energy provision to citizens.

During the meeting, Al-Sudani instructed the ministry to actively implement its plans and respond swiftly to any issues, complaints, and requests from citizens. The statement detailed that the meeting reviewed the ministry’s strategies concerning production, transmission, distribution, resolving bottlenecks, and supplying fuel to gas stations. Special focus was given to energy supply in the Karbala Governorate during the Arbaeen pilgrimage, maintaining a stable production rate of 25,500 to 26,500 megawatts despite limited imported gas.

Further discussions included plans to increase the capacity of the national electricity system in response to the hot summer conditions and strategies to enhance the ministry’s revenues through electricity fee collection. Technical methods for connecting power transmission lines with neighboring countries and the role of consulting companies in providing technical and legal advice were also reviewed.

The statement also mentioned initiatives to transition government buildings to solar energy, reducing reliance on traditional electricity, and exploring alternative fuels to mitigate the shortage of imported gas, all aimed at ensuring a consistent energy supply across the country.