Iraq is starting up the first of a number of large gas-fired power plants at a time when Iraqi sales gas volumes are at an all-time high and pipeline imports from Iran have begun. Yet the amount of new generating capacity due online means that gas supplies will remain overstretched for the foreseeable future.
Iraq’s peak power load was 14.35GW in 2016; in 2017 it is expected to be 7.7% higher at 15.45GW, according to the federal Ministry of Electricity. The ministry reckons that it has enough generating capacity available to meet this peak load, although the 16.91GW available represents only two-thirds of the 26.15GW of installed capacity (see tables). (CONTINUED - 843 WORDS)
