Iraqi Electricity Minister discusses electrical interconnection in Saudi Arabia
Electrical transmission towers. Photo: Al-Bayan Center for Planning and Studies
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Ziyad Ali Fadel, discussed on Wednesday moving forward with the electrical interconnection project with the Gulf States in Saudi Arabia, according to a statement cited by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
A statement issued by the Ministry of Electricity mentioned that the electrical interconnection project with the Gulf States will help Iraq reach stable electrical connections and benefit from a surplus of electric production.
Fadel discussed the electrical interconnection with the Gulf States during his visit to the headquarters of the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA), the statement illustrated.
The visit aims to review the developments related to the required contracts, the stages completed, the implementation plan, and the connecting lines inside Kuwait, the statement clarified.
The Iraqi Minister of Electricity also discussed several proposals to develop the electrical interconnection and the preparation for the second phase of the project, the statement added.
The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity announced last month that the first phase of the electrical interconnection with Jordan would begin in early July, Ammon News reported.
The spokesperson of the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity, Ahmed Musa, mentioned that the electrical interconnection with Jordan will be ready on July 1 as a first stage, with a capacity of 50 megawatts.
Last April, the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity revealed developments related to the electrical interconnection with the Gulf States, announcing the reasons for postponing the electrical interconnection with Turkey despite the completion of the construction of electric power lines at the end of 2022.
The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity mentioned that the electrical interconnection with Turkey has been completed, but Iraq is waiting for the preparation of an appropriate pricing list to implement the final operating agreement, INA reported.
The Iraqi Electricity Ministry elaborated that it is working on the construction of an electric power line connecting the Al-Faw power station in southern Iraq with the Al-Wafra power plant in Kuwait.
The Iraqi Minister of Electricity’s visit to Riyadh on April 11 addressed technical points related to the electrical interconnection with Saudi Arabia, where a starting point to carry out this project was set.