KRG expects improved summer power after Khor Mor gas field maintenance begins

ERBIL — The Kurdistan Regional Government expects improved electricity service this summer as Dana Gas begins a 21-day maintenance operation at the Khor Mor gas field, the region’s main source of natural gas.

In a joint statement Wednesday, the Ministry of Electricity and the Ministry of Natural Resources said the overhaul would begin at midnight and continue for three weeks. The work includes repairs and technical upgrades ahead of peak summer demand.

The Khor Mor gas field, located in Sulaymaniyah’s Chamchamal district, supplies more than 500 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day. That output fuels four major power plants, generating about 2,800 megawatts—or more than 75%—of the Kurdistan Region’s electricity supply.

Dana Gas is conducting the operation in coordination with the ministries. “It is expected that through the completion of this process, the level of electricity services during the summer season will notably increase,” the statement said.

The field has faced security challenges in recent years. On April 26, 2024, a drone attack killed four Yemeni workers, injured several others, and caused significant damage to the facility.

The Kurdistan Region, with a population of more than 6.3 million, faces chronic electricity shortages. During peak seasons, state-provided power drops to as little as seven hours a day in winter and 12 hours in summer, leaving residents dependent on private local generators.

The KRG has prioritized expanding electricity access through its Runaki project, launched by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in October 2024. The government aims to deliver round-the-clock electricity to all major city centers by the end of 2025, with region-wide service targeted by 2026.