Runaki project expands 24‑hour power with technical teams dispatched to Duhok and Sulaymaniyah

ERBIL — The Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Electricity has extended its Runaki project to four additional Erbil neighborhoods, delivering round‑the‑clock national electricity service to 14,000 more subscribers.

“As of today, the Nishtiman, Raparin, Newroz, and Mardin neighborhoods are receiving 24‑hour electricity,” the ministry announced.

The expansion builds on earlier phases that connected 13 neighborhoods—serving 51,000 subscribers—in areas including Shadi, Bahari Nwe, Naznaz, Bakhtiyari, Sarbasti, Kuran, Kurdistan, Majidawa, Rizgari, Bahar, Krekaren, Azadi, and Rasti. “With this latest addition, 17 neighborhoods in Erbil are now receiving uninterrupted power, benefiting 65,000 subscribers and nearly 250,000 residents,” the statement read.

Launched on Oct. 17 by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, the Runaki project debuted in the Shadi and Naznaz neighborhoods and aims to provide continuous electricity across the Kurdistan Region by the end of 2026. Technical teams have now begun work in Sulaymaniyah and Duhok, where additional neighborhoods are slated to be connected soon. Some neighborhoods in Duhok governorate have enjoyed 24-hour grid power for years under a pilot porgram.

For years, residents of the Kurdistan Region have depended on noisy and polluting private generators to bridge gaps in the national grid. However, the expansion of the Runaki project has sparked backlash among private generator owners, who contend that reliable government electricity threatens their livelihoods. Many fear that the shift could lead to financial losses and widespread job cuts.

The project draws on existing power sources, including natural gas from fields such as Khor Mor and hydroelectric capacity from dams like Dukan and Darbandikhan. Despite generating roughly 3,500 megawatts, regional demand exceeds 7,500 megawatts—a gap that becomes especially pronounced during peak winter and summer periods.