Baghdad – IA
The Ministry of Electricity confirmed, today, Sunday, that the Iranian side informed Iraq of the existence of maintenance in its lines that reduced the amount of gas supplied, and while it indicated the start of installing stations that depend on the heat generated from the simple cycle, it confirmed that the connection with Turkey and Jordan had been completed by 100 percent, also revealing the date of completion. Connecting with the Gulf.
Ministry spokesman Ahmed Musa told the (INA): “The system’s generation today amounts to approximately 17,500 megawatts,” indicating that “this came due to the system losing 4,000 megawatts due to the cessation of Iranian gas supplies to the central region and Baghdad and its reduction to the southern region.” .
He added, “The system’s need for gas at the current time, with peak winter loads, amounts to approximately 50 million cubic meters, but what is currently arriving is only 10 million cubic meters,” pointing out that “the Ministry of Oil is keen, through its support to the Ministry of Electricity, to compensate the system with Gas”.
He stated that “Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani and Minister of Electricity Ziad Ali Fadel stress to all electricity formations that a crisis will not occur, and there will not be a crisis as it happened in previous seasons,” noting that “what the system lost had a somewhat impact on supply hours.”
He stated that “part of our stations are operating today on alternative fuels, gasoline, or crude oil, so that there is no crisis in energy production,” noting that “what the system lost affected the hours of electricity supply.”
He stressed that “operating generating units on alternative fuels is not the same as operating them on gas, and it affects the efficiency of generating units,” pointing out that “the Iranian side attributed the decline in gas quantities to the existence of maintenance work on the gas pipelines connecting to Iraq within Iranian territory, and they assured us that pumping gas will return.” On the seventh of next February, meaning that the stop is temporary.”
On the other hand, he continued, speaking about the national gas, that “what gas is extracted from the Okaz field goes to the Okaz station, and the gas from the Halfaya field is used for the Maysan gas and investment station,” explaining that “the Ministry of Oil announced in its plan for the first quarter of the year to extract gas for the benefit of power stations.” However, the need remains for the supplied gas, because gas exploitation projects require a period of time ranging from two to three years.”
He pointed out, “We are aiming to reduce dependence on gas and fossil fuels through combined cycle projects, where we install stations that do not rely on gas to operate, but rather on the heat generated by the simple cycle.”
He stated, “This is a step that reduces dependence on gas and fuel, whether national or supplied,” explaining, “We are working on solar energy projects and have handed over plots of land to contracting companies. We are also working on completing electrical connection projects, and we are working on producing energy through waste recycling projects.” .
He stressed that “all these steps aim to reduce dependence on fuel and gas and pressure on expenses.”
Regarding the electrical connection, Moussa stressed that “the electrical connection with the Gulf requires 12-16 months to be completed,” pointing out that “about 87 percent of this connection has been completed so far, and what remains is the completion of the last brick to complete this connection and ensure the extension of the B line to the Al-Faw station.” It will be completed with the Wafra station inside Kuwait, so that this connection will be ready in its first phase.
He pointed out that “the connection with Turkey is 100% complete, just as it is 100% complete with Jordan, and we are awaiting some approvals for it to enter into force.”