Baghdad: Iraqi newspapers today highlighted Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s announcement of the government’s ambitious plan to achieve energy independence within two years. This announcement coincided with the signing of a joint security memorandum of understanding between Iraq and Iran, marking significant developments in both energy and security sectors.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Iraq is advancing strategic projects to enhance electricity production and diversify its energy sources as part of a comprehensive plan to bolster the energy sector’s infrastructure. In a notable step, Prime Minister Al-Sudani inaugurated the 13th gas turbine unit at the Bismayah Gas Investment Plant, boosting its output by 300 megawatts, with an additional 210 megawatts restored following maintenance, bringing the plant’s total capacity to 5,000 megawatts.
Al-Sudani emphasized the role of public-private partnerships and ongoing efforts to secure gas supplies and complete gas reception platforms at Al-Faw
Port, with a flexible platform expected to be operational by the summer of 2026. Plans are underway to increase production capacity to 60,000 megawatts through collaborations with global companies like GE and Siemens, as well as through thermal, investment, and renewable energy projects. However, recent power outages in several cities due to a system malfunction have prompted immediate action by authorities to stabilize the national grid.
Electricity Production Media Director Qais Al-Waeli announced preparations to sign a contract with Shanghai Electric of China to build plants with a total capacity of 10,000 megawatts, aiming to diversify international partnerships. Iraq has achieved a record production level of 28,000 megawatts through maintenance, plant upgrades, and the use of imported fuel. In the oil sector, Iraq’s refining capacity has reached 1.5 million barrels per day, with self-sufficiency in gasoline expected by the end of 2025, and self-sufficiency in natural gas by 2027 through projects in Basr
a.
Additionally, Al-Zawraa newspaper detailed the security memorandum of understanding signed between Iraq and Iran, overseen by Prime Minister Al-Sudani. The agreement, signed by Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji and Ali Larijani, Secretary-General of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, focuses on security coordination along their shared borders. The Prime Minister underscored Iraq’s commitment to developing relations with Iran and reaffirmed Iraq’s stance against Zionist aggression and support for US-Iranian dialogue.
Ali Larijani conveyed greetings from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, emphasizing the importance of sustaining bilateral relations, particularly concerning the railway link between the two nations. Security discussions also addressed regional stability and Palestinian issues, with a call for international action to address humanitarian concerns.
Al-Zaman newspaper reported on the sudden power outage affecting multiple governorates amid a severe heat wave, with te
mperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius. Technical issues led to power plant shutdowns across several regions, including Basra and Baghdad. Maintenance teams are working to restore power, though the Ministry of Electricity has yet to provide an official statement on the outage’s cause or resolution timeline, leaving citizens to cope with challenging conditions.