Chinese company says Iraq power plants to add 1200 MW by summer

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Chinese state-owned company operating in Iraq said Monday that several power plants under construction are expected to come online in summer, adding more than 1,200 megawatts to Iraq’s national grid as the country struggles to meet rising power demand.

“The company is currently building gas-fired power plants that will enter service next summer and will add around 1,000 megawatts to the national grid,” Ahmed al-Amin, regional director of Shanghai Electric, told Iraqi state media.

He added that the company is also upgrading the al-Haritha station in southern Basra province and the Wasit station in eastern Wasit province. Haritha station is expected to add about 220 megawatts, while Wasit is projected to add around 2,520 megawatts.

Iraqi electricity ministry spokesperson Ahmed Mousa told Rudaw on Sunday that Iraq expects a generation deficit of around 42,000 megawatts during the summer, with overall demand projected to reach 60,000 megawatts. He also revealed the federal government’s plan to purchase power from the Kurdistan Region to meet the demand after it was halted due to the Iran war since February 28.

Electricity generation in Iraq frequently falls short during peak summer and winter seasons. The shortage has worsened since Washington rescinded Iraq’s waiver to import electricity from Iran in March 2025 as part of the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran.

The electricity ministry said in late April that power grid interconnection projects with neighboring countries are expected to become operational before the summer season, with projected imports of around 600 megawatts from Turkey, 500 megawatts from Gulf countries in the first phase, and 150 megawatts from Jordan.