KRG ministry: 24-hour power unlikely soon

SULAYMANIYAH – The Kurdistan Regional Government’s Deputy Minister of Electricity Kamil Qazzaz warned residents not to expect 24-hour electricity in the near future, with officials estimating it could take another decade to achieve. The region, home to over 6.5 million people, currently receives only 11 to 12 hours of government-supplied electricity per day, a situation that has persisted for years.

Qazzaz told 964Media that reaching the goal of uninterrupted power “will require a lot of work and will take several years.” The shortfall is exacerbated by an outdated and inefficient distribution network, which struggles to meet the region’s peak demand of around 6,000 megawatts, while producing only 3,700 megawatts.

On August 12, the Ministry of Electricity announced a decade-long master plan developed by local engineering staff, “setting out a strategic roadmap aimed at enhancing the electricity sector.” Although the plan did not specify when 24-hour power would be achieved, Ministry spokesperson Omed Ahmed noted that if the budget is secured, the goal could be reached within 10 years.

Despite these efforts, residents remain heavily dependent on private generators, which are widespread across cities and towns. The KRG has introduced a new system aiming to provide 24-hour electricity to select residential areas and markets in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok as part of a pilot project. Last week, the project was expanded to Erbil’s Shadi neighborhood for additional testing.

“It’s only a pilot project, but it has been successful and will eventually cover all areas,” said Ahmed.

KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani recently reiterated the government’s commitment to achieving 24-hour electricity, though he did not provide a specific timeline.