Baghdad-INA
The Electricity Minister Ali Saadi Waheeb signed an agreement with GE Vernova on Friday to implement a comprehensive plan aimed at strengthening the country's power sector.
In a statement, received by The Iraqi News Agency-INA Minister Waheeb said the agreement was signed in Washington under the patronage of Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi as part of a strategic initiative to expand electricity generation capacity, modernize the national transmission network, and enhance Iraq's energy security.
The agreement provides for the implementation of an integrated national program built around key pillars, including synchronizing fuel supply with the addition of new generation capacity, constructing and expanding power plants, upgrading and reinforcing the national transmission grid, and mobilizing and structuring the financing required for the projects.
Waheeb said the plan includes adding new generation capacity through the construction of combined-cycle gas-fired power plants using GE Vernova's latest technologies, helping to narrow the gap between current electricity production and rising demand.
The generation program includes a central power project in Al-Faw, as well as expansion projects at the Al-Mansouriya I and II, Mulla Abdullah, Najaf, Samawah, Dhi Qar, Diwaniyah, and Karbala power plants.
He also affirmed that the agreement also covers major projects to expand and modernize the national transmission network, including the construction and upgrading of electricity transmission substations, implementation of a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnection project between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, the establishment of advanced distribution control centers, and the modernization of substation automation systems.
Waheeb said the agreement represents a significant step toward implementing the Iraqi government's vision for addressing challenges in the electricity sector by integrating generation expansion, fuel security, transmission network development, and project financing, with the aim of improving grid stability, increasing the efficiency of electricity supply, and enhancing services for consumers.
