The Iraqi ministry of electricity “has been preparing for the coming of summer by raising production,” spokesman Ahmed Musa told the state-owned Iraqi news agency.

The ministry added 3,500 megawatts and inaugurating strategic transmission lines between governorates, Musa said.

“We have completed establishing the technical connection with Turkey, and we are waiting for Iraq to be supplied with 500 megawatts,” Musa added.

In 2021, the Kurdistan Region’s electricity said a project that established a power line to connect Iraq with Turkey via the Region had been started.

Oil-rich Iraq produces just 16,000 megawatts of power – far below the 24,000 megawatts needed, and even further from the expected future needs of a country whose population is set to double by 2050, according to the U.N.

The country buys gas and electricity from neighboring Iran to supply about a third of its power sector, which has been worn down by years of conflict and poor maintenance, and is unable to meet the needs of the country’s 40 million population.

The failure of Iraq’s power system is particularly acute in the baking hot summer months, often a time of social protest exacerbated by electricity shortages, when temperatures shoot past 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit).

Reporter's code: 50101