Iranian gas exports to Iraq expected to increase next summer

The Iranian Ambassador to Iraq, Mohammed Kazem Al Sadeq, announced on Friday a projected increase in Iranian gas exports to Iraq during the upcoming summer season.

This revelation comes amidst discussions regarding a significant uptick in the supply of gas from Iran to its neighbor. Sadeq confirmed the existence of an agreement aimed at supplying between 40 to 50 million cubic meters of gas to Iraq daily. He further indicated that the flow of these agreed-upon volumes of gas would resume their normal course following the completion of maintenance works, as reported by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

According to Sadeq, Iran recently concluded its yearly maintenance activities on the gas pipelines designated for exporting gas to Iraq. Although these maintenance efforts temporarily led to a decline in gas flows, they did not result in a complete cessation. However, the impact of these maintenance works reverberated within Iraq, with the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity reporting a 25 percent reduction in the country’s electrical output due to diminished gas supplies from Iran.

Ahmed Musa, the spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity, shed light on the repercussions of the dwindling gas imports from Iran. Musa explained that ongoing maintenance projects in Iran have caused a decline in gas imports, resulting in a loss of approximately 4,200 megawatts per hour within Iraq’s electricity grid. Currently, Iraq generates around 18,600 megawatts of power per hour, catering primarily to the central and southern regions of the country with 16 hours of electricity daily.

Despite the significant reliance on Iranian gas imports, Iraq finds itself facing a shortfall, importing only 1,200 megawatts of electricity from Iran out of the required 8,000 megawatts generated by gas imports. Presently, Iraq imports 10 million cubic meters of gas daily, falling short of the 50 million cubic meters needed to sustain the electrical system. In response to this shortfall, the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity has outlined plans to augment electricity generation to 27,000 megawatts by May 1. This initiative aims to bridge the gap and meet the escalating energy demands of the country during the sweltering summer months when electricity consumption typically surges.