ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq said on Thursday that a major electricity interconnection project with Turkey, signed nearly a year ago, has been technically completed and will soon become operational, adding 300 megawatts to the national grid.
“All technical and engineering work on the Iraqi electricity connection project with Turkey has been completed 100 percent, and only a few administrative procedures remain,” Electricity Ministry spokesperson Ahmad Musa al-Abadi told Rudaw on Thursday, adding that coordination has taken place with the Kurdistan Region.
Abadi said authorities are now awaiting approval of the budget law to allocate the necessary funds and officially launch the project.
The Iraqi government has prepared two main transmission lines for the project - Jazira-Mosul and Silopi-Fayda. The lines pass through the Kurdistan Region and are connected to Iraq’s national electricity grid.
“We have a high level of coordination with the Kurdistan Regional Government to ensure the project succeeds,” he said.
Under a previous agreement, Iraq imported 300 megawatts of electricity from Turkey. Baghdad and Ankara reached a deal in June last year to double the supply to 600 megawatts.
In March 2025, Baghdad accelerated efforts to diversify its energy sources after Washington rescinded a waiver that had allowed Iraq to purchase electricity from neighboring Iran, a key supplier for years.
According to the electricity ministry spokesperson, the Turkey interconnection project will ultimately provide Iraq with 600 megawatts of electricity.
Iraq continues to suffer from chronic electricity shortages, particularly during the summer, when temperatures often exceed 50 degrees Celsius and power demand surges.
At peak production, Iraq can generate up to 27,000 megawatts of electricity, but it still faces a 19,000-megawatt deficit, with total demand approaching 48,000 megawatts, according to the ministry.
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