Kurdistan Region hit by second power shortage in two days as Khor Mor gas supply fails again

ERBIL — Widespread power outages struck the Kurdistan Region Monday night for the second time in two days after a technical failure at the Khor Mor gas field interrupted gas deliveries to power stations.

In a statement released Tuesday, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Electricity confirmed that the malfunction halted gas supplies, cutting 2,500 megawatts of electricity from the grid. “A technical issue at the Khor Mor gas field has reduced gas supply, cutting 2,500 megawatts of electricity from the grid,” the ministry said.

A similar disruption occurred earlier this week when another technical failure—triggered by a drop in temperatures that affected gas flow—resulted in a loss of 1,000 megawatts. Restoration was completed after several hours.

Officials from the Ministries of Natural Resources and Electricity are working to resolve the ongoing issues, although no timeline for a full restoration has been provided. The region’s strained energy grid typically produces around 4,000 megawatts, below a demand that exceeds 7,000 megawatts.

The shortfall has intensified reliance on private generators. More than 7,000 units, noted for noise and environmental pollution, are currently in operation to bridge the energy gap, raising environmental concerns in urban areas.

Amid these challenges, the Kurdistan Regional Government is advancing its Runaki (Light) project, aimed at delivering 24-hour electricity across the region by 2026. Eight additional neighborhoods in Erbil—Kuran, Rizgari, Kurdistan, Bahar, Krekaren, Azadi, Majidawa, and Rasti—were recently added to the program, bringing uninterrupted power to over 28,000 new subscribers. In total, 13 neighborhoods in Erbil now receive continuous national electricity, covering 50,000 subscribers.

Technical work is also underway in the Sulaymaniyah and Duhok governorates, with some neighborhoods in Duhok already enjoying trial access to uninterrupted power for more than two years. The project was officially launched in October 2023 by KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, who pledged that “by the end of 2026, every household and business in the Kurdistan Region will have access to 24/7 electricity.”