Iraq-GCC Power Link Set For 2024, While Saudi Talks Advance

22 Jul 2022 Issue: 65 / 29 By: Yesar Al-Maleki

Iraq has made a breakthrough in its efforts to secure electricity supplies from GCC states, finally reaching a tariff on payments to the GCCIA. Bilateral discussions to secure power directly from Saudi Arabia are also inching forward but could yet be stymied by political developments in Baghdad.

Iraq and the GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) on 16 July signed a “detailed agreement” that serves as the final step towards tying in Iraq’s southern electricity grid to those of the six GCC states. Having initially aimed for supplies to begin in summer 2020, the new agreement is set to enable transmission to begin in time for summer 2024.

Iraq has become increasingly dependent on neighboring Iran to shore up its inadequate electricity infrastructure in recent years. The US has encouraged Iraq to end this dependency, and with Iran no longer a reliable supplier due to its own domestic problems, the imperative for Iraq to secure new power-links has deepened. (CONTINUED - 1597 WORDS)