The Runaki Project: Reducing emissions, saving water, and offsetting 80 million trees

One year after the launch of the Runaki Project - meaning “light” in Kurdish - an ambitious initiative designed to provide 24-hour, uninterrupted electricity across the Kurdistan Region; approximately 70 percent of the Region’s population is now receiving continuous power through the program.

The Runaki Project marks a significant milestone in the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) efforts to modernize the energy sector, reduce dependence on small private diesel generators, and minimize environmental pollution resulting from fragmented power production.

According to the latest data released by the Runaki Project management team on November 3, the total number of citizens currently benefiting from the project has reached 4,427,500 across the four provinces - Erbil, Duhok, Halabja, and Sulaimani - and three independent administrations - Raparin, Soran, and Zakho - within the Kurdistan Region.

Of this total, 985,000 residential subscribers and 122,000 commercial subscribers are now directly connected to the Runaki electricity network. The project aims to achieve full coverage by the end of next year, ensuring that all five partnership categories - covering both public and private electricity distribution frameworks - are integrated under a unified, reliable 24-hour supply system throughout all administrative areas of the Kurdistan Region.

According to a 2021 survey conducted by the Kurdistan Region Statistics Office (KRSO), there were 7,354 private generators operating across the Region. On average, these generators supplied electricity for about nine hours per day to approximately 1,311,598 subscribers.

The Runaki Project aims to put an end to the long-standing dependence on both private generators and unreliable government electricity, as well as to eliminate the seasonal fluctuations in power availability during the summer and winter months. Its impact is designed to extend beyond residents of major cities or large residential developments - it seeks to provide stable, sustainable electricity to all types of consumers, including residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, and other sectors.

This initiative has two major environmental implications that will significantly affect carbon dioxide emissions and the broader climate of the Kurdistan Region. First, it introduces an efficient energy demand management system that reduces consumption and prevents unnecessary energy waste. Second, it will phase out nearly 7,000 diesel-powered generators, which have long been a major source of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Phasing out 7,000 generators in the Kurdistan Region

According to a joint survey conducted in 2022 by the KRSO and the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) – an affiliate of the Iraqi planning ministry - and published late last year, the total number of private electricity generators operating across the Kurdistan Region’s provinces stood at 7,354 units.

Among the provinces, Erbil had the highest number, with 3,776 generators, followed by the northern Duhok province with 1,819, and the eastern Sulaimani province with 1,759. Of note, the Sulaimani figure also includes Halabja province, which has fewer generators because certain districts - such as Dukan - already receive round-the-clock electricity from the public grid and therefore do not rely on private generation.

As of now, 3,789 generators in the Kurdistan Region have been phased out, leaving 3,565 still in operation. The breakdown by governorate is as follows: Erbil - 1,452 generators, Duhok - 1,123, and Sulaimani - 990. This large-scale shutdown is part of an environmental initiative aimed at significantly reducing gas emissions from diesel-based generation; with the Runaki Project management team say the environmental benefits of this policy are already becoming evident.

According to the same statistical report, these 7,354 private generators were originally operated to supply up to nine hours of electricity per day, supplementing power shortages from the regional grid. Over the course of one year, they consumed approximately 754.8 million liters of diesel fuel to provide power for 1,311,598 subscribers, producing a total of 5,290,169 ampere-hours of electricity annually.

In addition to fuel consumption, the generators also required around 1,154,391 cubic meters of water each year for engine cooling. Notably, about 64 percent of this water came from the public water supply network, placing further strain on local water resources.

However, at the same time, when discussing the plan to phase out private electricity generators that supply power to residential and commercial areas, it is important to highlight the broader economic and social impacts of this decision. Ending generator operations will result in the unemployment of 7,746 workers, each earning an average monthly income of 392,000 Iraqi dinars (around $300). Moreover, 3,108 generator owners - including 14 women - will experience a complete loss of income.

The generator sector generated an annual total income of 726 billion dinars (around $555 million) for owners across the Kurdistan Region: 290 billion dinars (around $222 million) in Erbil, 216 billion dinars (around $165 million) in Sulaimani, and 219 billion dinars (around $167 million) in Duhok.

According to Runaki Project management team, all these figures are expected to drop to zero by the end of 2026, when generator operations are scheduled to cease entirely. At that time, diesel fuel consumption for power generation will be eliminated, and public water will no longer be required for cooling.


Source: Kurdistan Region Statistics Office (KRSO), Iraqi Ministry of Planning, Kurdistan Regional Government, January 2024

Currently, there are approximately 1.9 million electricity subscribers across the Kurdistan Region, covering residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and other sectors. Of these, 1,107,000 subscribers have already been connected to the Runaki Project, which aims to modernize and expand access to the public electricity grid.

According to project data, the monthly electricity cost per subscriber in the Runaki Project varies by consumption level and by month. The median monthly payment reached its highest point in January at 91,000 dinars (around $70), and its lowest in May at 20,000 dinars (around $15.28), as illustrated below.


Source: Runaki Project website, retrieved November 4, 2025, at 14:00 local time in Erbil

Note: The term “median” is used here instead of “average.” This means the value represents the middle point of the data - calculated as the mean of the two closest numbers among three - providing a more accurate reflection of typical subscriber payments without being skewed by extreme highs or lows.

Environmental effects of the shift in electricity demand and power sources

The Runaki project involves two key environmental dimensions. The first focuses on reducing overall electricity demand - that is, minimizing unnecessary energy consumption both by citizens and within the power grid itself. The second concerns changing the source of electricity generation for residents, shifting from diesel and heavy fuel oil - often referred to as black oil - to natural gas. Together, these two measures are expected to have a significant positive impact on the water, air, and soil quality of the Kurdistan Region in the coming years.

Regarding electricity demand, the KRG’s Electricity Minister, Kamal Mohammad, stated in a late October interview posted on his ministry’s official Facebook page, that areas connected to the project have experienced a 40 percent reduction in peak consumption loads at power stations. In practical terms, if a neighborhood previously required 10 megawatts (MW), it now requires only 6 MW to meet the same level of demand. This efficiency gain has allowed the electricity supply to meet 24-hour demand without the need to increase total production capacity.

Previously, when electricity demand exceeded production capacity - sometimes doubling - it resulted in reduced hours of power supply. Today, however, despite the Kurdistan Region’s total electricity production remaining at approximately 4,200 MW, the number of areas enjoying continuous 24-hour electricity is steadily rising.

Moreover, during seasonal peaks in summer and winter, when demand used to reach 7,500 MW, about 70 percent of residents now have uninterrupted power. Moreover, the Kurdistan Region is able to export around 1,200 MW to Baghdad. These improvements demonstrate that the project has effectively balanced demand regulation with increased supply capacity.

If the reduction in total electricity demand across the Kurdistan Region due to the Runaki Project reaches 1,000 MW, this would effectively return one-quarter of the previous electricity supply back to the power grid. This recovered energy would be sufficient to supply electricity to the equivalent of a city of approximately 750,000 to one million homes, assuming each home consumes about 30 kilowatts (kW) over a 24-hour period.

From an environmental standpoint - particularly in terms of air quality - the impact of ending generator operations in the Kurdistan Region is significant.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) - an affiliate of the United States’ Department of Energy - reports that burning one liter of diesel releases 2.68 kilograms (kg) of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Accordingly, discontinuing the operation of approximately 7,000 generators, which together consume around 754 million liters of diesel annually, would prevent the emission of about 2.02 million tons of CO2 each year.

Beyond carbon dioxide, diesel combustion also releases a range of toxic pollutants, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and black carbon (BC). It also increases the concentration of fine particulate matter – most notably PM2.5 and PM1.0 - which contribute to air pollution and pose serious health risks.

For example, the 2022 survey by the KRSO and the CSO reports that annual diesel consumption in the generator sector has been responsible for the release of approximately 15,000 tons of NOx, 7,500 tons of CO, and 1,200 tons of BC. These emissions are major contributors to air pollution, acid rain, climate change, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The graphic below illustrates the amount of gas emissions generated by fuel consumption for nine hours of electricity provision in the Kurdistan Region in 2021.

From another perspective, eliminating generator-based electricity production in the Kurdistan Region would be environmentally equivalent to planting 80 million trees, each capable of absorbing approximately 25 kg of CO2 annually. Alternatively, it would have the same effect as removing about 441,000 fuel-powered cars from the Region’s roads - vehicles that currently emit various gases and pollutants into the atmosphere every day.


Note 1: CO2 emission calculations are based on data from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – an affiliate of the United States federal government - which estimates that burning one liter of diesel releases 2.64 kg of CO2, and that the average car emits 4.6 tons of CO2 per year.

Note 2: A mature tree absorbs approximately 25 kg of CO2 from the atmosphere annually.

Conclusion

This transformation in the Kurdistan Region’s energy system aligns with two major global and regional trends: the rising demand for electricity and the urgent need to mitigate climate change, particularly by reducing CO2 emissions.

The Runaki Project represents a pivotal step forward in both respects: First, by regulating electricity demand and reducing waste, the project helps counteract the continuous growth in energy consumption - a trend observed across the Middle East - while also ending three decades of reliance on both government-supplied and private generator-based electricity.

Second, by shifting toward cleaner energy sources and adopting diverse pathways to cut harmful emissions, the project actively contributes to global efforts to combat climate change. These pathways include reducing dependence on oil, capturing or avoiding CO2 emissions, promoting electric vehicle use, and expanding green infrastructure.

In this context, the Runaki Project plays a crucial role by preventing the release of approximately 2.02 million tons of CO2 annually, lowering concentrations of fine particulate matter PM2.5 - which should remain below five micrograms per cubic meter according to international air quality standards - and reducing noise pollution across both urban and rural areas.

Ultimately, the Runaki Project demonstrates how environmental sustainability and energy modernization can advance together - strengthening the Kurdistan Region’s resilience while contributing to global climate goals.

Mahmood Baban is a research fellow at the Rudaw Research Center.

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rudaw.