Ministry of Electricity: Iraq has entered a new phase in regional interconnection.
Ministry of Electricity: Iraq has entered a new phase in regional interconnection.
2025-10-26
The Ministry of Electricity confirmed, on Sunday, that Iraq has entered a new phase in the field of regional electricity interconnection, while indicating that it is continuing to implement the interconnection project with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the completion rate of which has reached approximately 93% in its first phase. The ministry’s spokesman, Ahmed Moussa, stated in a statement to the official agency that “Iraq has entered a new phase in the field of regional electricity interconnection, similar to what is implemented by the Gulf countries and the European Union countries, within the framework of the effort to achieve integration in energy systems and exchange them between countries.”
He also explained that “the Ministry of Electricity has completed the electrical interconnection with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and has also completed another interconnection with Turkey. Meanwhile, the interconnection project with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries continues, with approximately 93% of the project’s first phase complete and scheduled to enter service soon.”
He added, “Iraq is currently working on implementing a new link with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the consulting and technical contract for the project has been signed, in preparation for the commencement of implementation work.”
He also stated that “the Council of Ministers approved a new recommendation regarding the third contract with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which authorizes the Ministry of Electricity to sign the contract or continue with the current contract to purchase electricity for the areas of western Anbar, specifically the Rutba district.” He pointed out that “the electricity connection with Jordan entered service about two years ago, via 132 kilovolt transmission lines to transfer 50 megawatts of energy to the Iraqi grid in the Rutba district, and this connection is still operating efficiently to this day.”
Moussa also pointed out that “the third contract, which was approved by the Council of Ministers, is a continuation of the first and second contracts, to supply energy with the same capacity (50 megawatts) via existing lines,” indicating that “the project required the construction of 400 kilovolt lines linking the Al-Qaim station in Iraq to the Risha station inside Jordanian territory. All work on the lines, towers and transformer stations (auto) has been completed, awaiting some final technical procedures by the energy production staff.”
He explained that “the second phase of the project will increase the supply capacity to 150 megawatts, while the third and fourth phases will reach 250 and then 350 megawatts,” noting that “there is an intention to activate a three-way synchronous connection between Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt, known as synchronous connection, which will enhance the stability of the grid and increase its flexibility.”
He emphasized that “the benefits of the electrical connection are numerous. It has contributed to the stability of the electricity system in Rutba District, achieved significant technical benefits for the national grid, and is a strategic step toward integrating Iraq into the regional energy market and expanding its capacity to exchange electricity with neighboring countries.”
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