Monitor
Al-Sudani chairs meeting on technical aspects for Iraq’s solar energy plan
BAGHDAD – Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Tuesday led a meeting to finalize technical plans for Iraq’s solar energy program, emphasizing smart metering, digital billing, and private sector partnerships in renewable energy.
Attended by the minister of electricity, provincial governors, and energy experts, the gathering produced clear directives for accelerating land allocation to private firms eager to build solar facilities. The prime minister also requested frequent updates on the progress of these projects, along with a comprehensive list of prospective companies and investors.
“Prime Minister Al-Sudani directed the governors to expedite the allocation of land for these projects to the private sector within a short timeframe and to provide him with updates while compiling a list of companies and investors interested in participating,” a statement from Al-Sudani’s media office read.
Iraq experiences recurring power shortages, particularly during scorching summers when temperatures soar above 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Although officials have repeatedly pledged to tackle the electricity crisis, supply continues to lag behind demand.
In recent days, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad confirmed that Washington decided not to renew a sanctions waiver allowing Iraq to purchase electricity from Iran, which supplies roughly one-third of Iraq’s gas and electricity. The statement did not address the status of Iraqi imports of Iranian gas, a resource critical for local power generation.
In an interview with Dijlah TV, Muhammad Sahib Al-Daraji, an advisor to the PM, attributed the ongoing electricity crisis to mismanagement and a preference for high-commission power generation contracts over efforts to strengthen distribution and transmission systems.
Statement from PM Al-Sudani’s media office:
Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani chaired a special meeting today to discuss technical aspects and smart solutions for the implementation of the solar energy project. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Electricity, members of the National Smart Solutions and Renewable Energy Team, several governors, and advisers to the Prime Minister.
The meeting reviewed the performance and output of energy systems, focusing on solar energy adoption, smart metering technologies, and digital billing.
Discussions also covered private sector participation in smart energy management projects across the provinces, under the supervision of local governments and in coordination with the Ministry of Electricity. The ministry will oversee the purchase of generated energy, regulation of pricing and costs, monitoring of private sector performance, and implementation of smart metering for billing purposes.
Prime Minister Al-Sudani directed the governors to expedite the allocation of land for these projects to the private sector within a short timeframe and to provide him with updates while compiling a list of companies and investors interested in participating.
Additionally, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Electricity to immediately prepare technical contracts for the smart solar energy project, ensuring they meet defined standards and follow a streamlined process. These contracts will be submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval.
