Experts: Electricity connection with neighboring countries saves only 3,000 megawatts

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[size=52]Experts: Electricity connection with neighboring countries saves only 3,000 megawatts[/size]

[size=45]Baghdad/ Firas Adnan[/size]
[size=45]Experts in the field of energy stated that the electrical connection with neighboring countries provides only 3,000 megawatts, explaining that this figure does not constitute anything in front of the actual need of Iraq, and they went to the fact that the connection has other goals of an economic and political nature, and they were surprised by the statements of Finance Minister Ali Abdul Amir Allawi has an intention to export electric power, calling for internal sufficiency first.[/size]
[size=45]The expert in the field of energy, Furat Al-Moussawi, said, "Iraq suffers from a major problem in the electrical energy that extends for many years."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Moussawi added, "The actual need for Iraq is 35,000 megawatts, while all that has been spent on the Ministry of Electricity since 2003 until the present time has not been invested in producing more than 15,000 megawatts."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out, "The government has tried to find different sources to supply the electric power system, other than Iranian gas, whose problems we are experiencing due to the decline."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Moussawi indicated that "a number of proposals were put forward, including the electrical connection with the countries of the region, such as Kuwait, Jordan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia."[/size]
[size=45]He stated, "The size of the connection with these countries varies between 500 megawatts to 1000 megawatts," explaining that "the connection will provide the system in general with 3,000 megawatts."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Moussawi explained, "These figures do not constitute anything to solve the problems that the system suffers from," noting that "Iraq looks at the electrical connection with greater economic and political dimensions than solving the electricity crisis."[/size]
[size=45]He believes, "This link can be considered as one of the alternative sources of gas imported from Iran," stressing that "the first and greatest need for Iranian gas will remain."[/size]
[size=45]And he added, "The total we import from Iran is 50 million cubic meters per day to cover one-third of the electric power production of 8,000 megawatts," explaining that "the total need for Iraq of gas is 70 million cubic meters."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Moussawi confirmed, "70% of the electric power system runs on dry gas," explaining that "what Iraq produces of this gas represents only a third, and therefore we should import the rest."[/size]
[size=45]He explained, "The problem of Iraq does not lie in production only, but rather the most prominent problem in distribution with dilapidated infrastructure, and losses are estimated at up to 40% of production due to the deterioration of infrastructure."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Moussawi added, "Previous governments did not put solutions to these problems, and their repercussions appeared today, and there was supposed to be a diversification of energy sources, not relying on Iranian gas, and switching to renewable energy and investing in gas, where losses from it amount to 17 billion cubic meters."[/size]
[size=45]For his part, economic expert Ahmed Manaf said that "Jordan has started clean energy, even though it takes oil from Iraq."[/size]
[size=45]Manaf added, "Iraq has many factors that help produce clean energy by virtue of the desert region that starts from the city of Ramadi to Basra and passes through Samawa."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that "corruption prevents the dispensation of traditional energy and the transition to clean, renewable energy," noting that "this transformation requires the conclusion of contracts and legal procedures."[/size]
[size=45]Manaf was surprised by what the Minister of Finance, Ali Abdul-Amir Allawi, raised about Iraq's intention to export electricity, adding that "the government must provide the country's needs of electrical energy first, and then think about exporting."[/size]
[size=45]The Minister of Finance had made statements that raised eyebrows that Iraq was considering exporting electricity in the future, and these statements brought back to memory a similar talk made by former Deputy Prime Minister Hussein al-Shahristani.[/size]
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