Iraq says waiting for Saudi response on cooperation in electricity field

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The Iraqi Electricity Ministry has said it awaits response from Saudi Arabia regarding several proposals in the electricity field, which were submitted last month through a delegation to Saudi officials.

An Iraqi technical delegation, that included senior officials from Electricity Ministry, paid an official visit in July to Saudi Arabia, where they met with Saudi officials regarding cooperation in the electricity field.

In remarks to Anadolu Agency, Mohamed Fathy, the ministry spokesperson, said “the proposals were related to extension of electricity transmission lines between the two countries as well as establishing stations to generate electricity.”

The proposals, according to Fathy, also include “Saudi investments in field of electricity as well as the fuel used by these stations.”

Iraq “awaits the Saudi response on the proposals, so actual measures would be taken, in case of approval,” he added.

Iraq imports electricity from Iran to reduce the shortage, the country has been through for years, as as the energy infrastructure were destroyed due to war against Islamic State.

Iran decided to cut around 1000 megawatts of electricity supplies citing local need.

According to figures announced by the Electricity Ministry, the country generates 15,700 megawatts. However, more than 23,000 megawatts of electricity are needed to cover the needs without outages.